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 Summary

This donation consists of the two booklets written by Rufus Porte on aerial navigation.

 Biographical / Historical

Rufus Porter (1792-1889) was the inventor of an airship 'the Aerial Locomotive' in the early 19th century. The original design for the airship was produced in 1820. In 1850 Porter organized a stock company to obtain funds for experimental purposes that failed to receive sufficient funds. Porter also invented a revolver, a horse power wood sawing apparatus and other mechanical devices. He was publisher of 'The New York Mechanic' and one of the founders of 'Scientific American.'

 Identifier

NASM.1991.0033

Creator

Porter, Rufus, 1792-1884

Date

1826

1849

Provenance

Robert B. Stephens, Gift, 1991, NASM.1991.0033

Extent

0.01 Cubic feet (1 folder)

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This donation consists of the following two booklets written by Rufus Porter: 1) 'Select Collection of Valuable and Curious Arts and Interesting Experiments which are well Explained, and Warranted genuine, and may be Performed Easily, Safely and At Little Expense,' Concord (New Hampshire), J.B. Moore Printers, 1826; and 2) Aerial navigation: The Practicability of Traveling Pleasantly and Safely from New York to California in Three Days, Fully Demonstrated: With a Full Description of a Perfect Aerial Locomotive, with Estimates of Capacity Speed and Cost of Construction,' New-York, Published by H. Smith, John Hall Printer, 222 Water Street, 1849.

Arrangement note

This collection is arranged at the item level. One of the two items has been digitized.

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

Rufus Porter Collection, NASM.1991.0033, National Air and Space Musuem, Smithsonian Institution.

Topics

Aeronautics

Aeronautics -- pre-1903

Navigation (Aeronautics)

Airships -- pre-1903

Airships

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Publications

Booklets