Wiley Post
Wiley Post in 1933 became the first person to fly solo around the world. He traveled 15,596 miles, and his voyage in the Winnie Mae lasted 7 days, 18 hours, 49 minutes. About 50,000 people welcomed his return to the Floyd Bennett Field in New York. He received a ticker tape parade in New York City. Children could learn more at: Solo Flight.
Sieur de La Salle (born Rouen, France, 1643; died in Texas, March 19, 1687) was an explorer. He traveled down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. He claimed all the lands that emptied into the Mississippi River for France. Children could view an excellent video at: Sieur de La Salle.
Abraham Baldwin (born North Guilford, Connecticut, 1754; died Washington, DC, March 4, 1807) represented Georgia at the Constitutional Convention. He was a chaplain during the Revolutionary War. After the war, he became an attorney and moved to Georgia. He decided to be a politician, and during the Constitutional Convention he kept the discussion going regarding Congress. He served in the House of Representatives for ten years and the Senate for eight years when he died during his second term. Children can learn more at: Abraham Baldwin.
Guion S. Bluford, Jr. (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1942) is the first African American astronaut to travel in space. He was a mission specialist on four space shuttle missions: STS-8. STS-61-A, STS-39, and STS-53. Children could visit a website at: Guion Bluford.
George Eliot (born Mary Ann Evans in Chilvers Coton, Warwickshire, England, 1819; died Chelsea, England, December 22, 1880) was a poet, journalist, and novelist. Two of her seven novels are Silas Marner and Middlemarch. Older children can read many of her works at: Project Gutenberg.
Jerrie Mock (born Newark Ohio, 1925; died Quincy, Florida, September 30, 2014) was an aviator, most known as the first woman to fly solo around the world. She took off from Columbus, Ohio, on March 19, 1964. Over 29 days later, she returned to Columbus on April 17, 1964. She also accomplished a number of other aviation records. Children could learn more at: Jerrie Mock. They could also read The Jerrie Mock Story: The First Woman to Fly Solo around the World by Nancy Roe Pimm.
Wiley Post (born Grand Plain, Texas, 1898; died near Port Barrow, Alaska, August 15, 1935) was an early aviator and stunt parachutist. The self-taught pilot flew the Winnie Mae. He co-authored, along with his navigator Harold Gatty, Around the World in Eight Days. He and Will Rogers were traveling from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Point Barrow, Alaska, when their plane crashed.