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Rufus Porter (1792-1884) was an artist, musician, teacher, inventor, and the founder of Scientific American magazine. In 1852 he tried to sell {dollar}5 shares of stock in Aerial Navigation Company to fund an "aeroport" or dirigible to carry passengers between New York and California. However, a tornado, vandalism by "rowdy visitors" at the unveiling, and the disintegration of the canvas caused by the varnish eroded his funds for that venture.

 Identifier

NASM.XXXX.1028

Creator

Porter, Rufus, 1792-1884

Date

bulk 1852

Provenance

Julia Hobson Mills, Gift, 1939

Extent

0.05 Cubic feet ((1 folder))

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of one 7.75 x 5 inch {dollar}5 stock certificate in Aerial Navigation Company, No. 779, dated 19 June 1852, to N. C. Brazeal. The certificate has been mounted.

Rights

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

Restrictions

No restrictions on access.

Citation

Aerial Navigation Company Stock Certificate [Rufus Porter], Accession XXXX-1028, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Topics

Aeronautics

Transcontinental flights -- United States

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Stock certificates