Wristwatch, Lindbergh, King Collection

A wristwatch with a black face and a light brown leather band. The back of the band has the text "Spirit of St. Louis" and "Genuine Leather." The watch face is black with green Roman Numerals 1 through 12 and white numbers 13 to 24 below them. Two smaller rings of numbers are outside the Roman Numerals, the inner ring has the number 1 to 31 whole the outer ring has the Cardinal directions along with every 30 degrees marked in the circle by the multiples of 30. The hands of the watch have a small glow-in-the-dark area as well as a red second hand. There are three crowns located at 2, 3 and 4 o'clock on the frame.

On May 20-21, 1927, Charles Lindbergh literally flew into history when he crossed the Atlantic Ocean in his Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis, thus becoming the first pilot to fly solo and nonstop from New York to Paris. This flight made Lindbergh a household name and catapulted him into fame and celebrity. The objects of popular culture in the National Collection display everything from ashtrays to wristwatches reflect the public adulation for Lindbergh and the powerful commercial response to his celebrity. More than 75 years after the Spirit's historic flight, Lindbergh's name still has the power help sell manufactured goods.