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Celebrating Aviation Week: Miami’s Aviation History Takes Off
7/3/25
National Aviation Week, observed from August 18 to 24, is held during the week of Orville Wright’s birthday on August 19. The celebration honors the achievements of Orville and his brother Wilbur Wright, who are credited with designing, building, and flying the first powered, controlled, and sustained airplane in 1903. Their groundbreaking flight laid the foundation for modern aviation and transformed transportation around the world.
To mark the occasion, the Miami-Dade Public Library System’s Digital Collection highlights two remarkable moments from Miami’s aviation history, captured through the lens of photographer Gleason Waite Romer. Known for documenting South Florida’s growth in the early 20th century, Romer’s images offer a glimpse into the early days of flight in the region, when the skies were just beginning to shape Miami’s identity.
One notable moment dates back to 1929, when the University of Miami opened an aviation course specifically for women, welcoming a pioneering group of female students. At a time when aviation was still in its infancy and overwhelmingly dominated by men, these women participated in a bold and forward-thinking educational program that challenged societal norms. Their participation reflects both the early emphasis on aviation education in Miami and the determination of women to establish themselves in a field that was largely closed to them.
In contrast to the story of local innovation, the Romer Collection also captures Miami’s broader ambitions in international aviation. Founded in 1927, Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) quickly established Miami as its primary hub for flights to Latin America, the Caribbean, and beyond — playing a key role in establishing the city as a gateway for international air travel. Charles Lindbergh, famous for his groundbreaking solo transatlantic flight the same year, later contributed to Pan Am’s expansion by helping to map and survey new air routes around the world. The collection includes photographs of Lindbergh’s visits to Miami, including his memorable arrival in Biscayne Bay on December 16, 1933, during one of these global survey flights. His work with Pan Am helped position Miami at the center of international aviation, symbolizing the city’s growing importance and strengthening its reputation as the gateway to the Americas — a legacy that continues to shape the city’s role in international air travel today.
Together, these two stories illustrate the broader arc of aviation history in Miami — one marked by international ambition and local innovation, by famous figures and lesser-known pioneers. They also underscore the value and importance of preserving our visual history. Through Romer’s photographs, we witness Miami’s transformation from a quiet coastal town to a modern city with global reach.
To view a selection of images exploring early aviation in Miami from the Gleason Waite Romer Photographs Collection, click here. These photographs capture key moments and local milestones in the city’s evolution as a hub for international air travel, offering a unique window into the early days of flight in South Florida.
