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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.
NASM.XXXX.1028
Porter, Rufus, 1792-1884
bulk 1852
Julia Hobson Mills, Gift, 1939
0.05 Cubic feet ((1 folder))
National Air and Space Museum Archives
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.
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Aerial Navigation Company Stock Certificate [Rufus Porter], Accession XXXX-1028, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Aeronautics
Transcontinental flights -- United States
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Stock certificates