Editor’s note: This story was originally published on May 20, 2024.
A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.
America enjoyed the 1920s. The Roaring ’20s. The post-World War I euphoria, the growth in big infrastructure across the nation as well as the introduction of telephones and electrical appliances in the home and cars on the roads, and movies and telephones ... and heroes.
Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, Charlie Chaplin, Duke Ellington, Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh.
On May 20, 1927, Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field on Long Island, New York, aboard the Spirit of St. Louis on his historic solo flight to France.
Here is the next day’s front page of the Deseret News. “Dream of year comes true for Lindbergh in flight across ocean,” read one of the many headlines.
The former military officer was the first to accomplish a solo transatlantic flight, and is considered by many to have ushered in a new era of air transportation.
While hailed as a hero, his life was far from perfect. In 1932, his infant son was kidnapped and murdered in the “Crime of the Century.” Some of his positions on the U.S. involvement in World War II also made headlines. In later years, he authored books, continued to explore the world and advocated for the U.S. national parks system.
“Lindbergh’s grandson trying to duplicate feat”
“This week in history: Lindbergh gives infamous ‘Who are the war agitators?’ speech”
Later in 1927, Lindbergh visited Utah as part of a barnstorming tour of the U.S.
“Utahn recalls the lucky day he saw ‘Lindy’ visit Salt Lake”
“Lindbergh lands in Salt Lake; Entire city goes wild in cheering as plane comes,” read the headline. Stories that day reported that crowds of more than 200,000 cheered as Lindy circled above in his “Spirit of St. Louis.”
Also on May 20, in 1932, Amelia Earhart took off from Newfoundland to become the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. (Because of weather and equipment problems, Earhart set down in Northern Ireland instead of her intended destination, France.)
More on her tomorrow.
