Pineville's airship inventor lands in "Pioneer Skies" exhibit at New Orleans airport

Melinda Martinez, Alexandria Town Talk
·4 min read
Two airship models were created by artist Peter Excho using Charles Page’s patented drawings. One is in the airport’s exhibit and the other at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. This was the first time his grandson Joseph Page had seen a model made of the airship using his grandfather's drawings.
Two airship models were created by artist Peter Excho using Charles Page’s patented drawings. One is in the airport’s exhibit and the other at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. This was the first time his grandson Joseph Page had seen a model made of the airship using his grandfather's drawings.

Passengers traveling through Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans can learn more about Pineville’s airship inventor Charles Frederick Page in the “Pioneer Skies: Freedom to Flight” exhibit unveiled by the Louisiana State Museum and the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum Advisory Board last Wednesday.

Page’s family including his grandson Joseph Page of Pineville were on hand for the ribbon cutting and dedication.

The exhibit also also has a timeline that includes notable aviation pioneers and events such as Leo Ortego of Alexandria who built the first working helicopter.

In April of 1906, Charles Page got a patent for his airship, one month before the Wright Brothers got theirs, making him the first man in the United States to get one, said local historian Michael Wynne in an article from the Feb. 27, 2024 edition of The Town Talk. Wynne has researched and written articles about Charles Page.

“I have known about my grandfather’s invention my entire life,” said Page. “And to have him recognized now, beyond Rapides Parish and beyond Pineville, is really heartwarming.”

Wynne didn’t attend the unveiling but said he was delighted that after so many years of trying to get the word out about Charles Page, that he is finally getting both state and international recognition. Joseph Page said that it was Wynne's research that breathed new life into the story about his grandfather.

“Charles Frederick Page was a hero to so many people and an inspiration to everybody,” said Wynne.

Two airship models were created by artist Peter Excho using Charles Page’s patented drawings. One is in the airport’s exhibit and the other at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

"NASA actually paid for a model of the construction of the airship that is on display in New Orleans along with all the information about my grandfather’s invention,” said Page. “It’s a mobile display and it’s going to be in the New Orleans airport until September.”

This was the first time Page had seen an actual model of the airship using the information on the patent application. He was blown away when he saw the model because he didn’t expect to see one.

“I had never seen a model of it before,” he said, though he had pictures of it accompanying the patent.

The display will travel to other airports around the state. He contacted Alexandria International Airport and informed them about the exhibit and ceremony in New Orleans.

“They’re supposed to contact those folks and see whether or not they can get display up here,” he said.

Born a slave who taught himself how to read and write, Charles Page is considered one of the top 10 Black inventors of the world and the Smithsonian National Museum in Washington, D.C., Wynne says in the article.

Charles Page built a full model airship in the 1890s at his two-story wooden frame home, at the corner of Edgewood and 28, behind what is now the Walgreens and had it shipped by train to be on display at the Louisiana World Exposition in St. Louis, Mo., which marked the 100th year anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase.

He may have planned to enter an aeronautics competition that had a $500,000 prize. The airship was stolen and destroyed before it ever got to St. Louis.

“It tremendously discouraged him," Wynne said. "In fact, he basically gave up on it.”

But Charles Page had already filed a U.S. patent application for his airship, and it was still being processed.

Joseph Page was unaware his grandfather would be part of the exhibit until he received a call Tuesday afternoon. He was told prior efforts were made to contact him beforehand but calls were going to a wrong number.

Even though he had such short notice, he decided to go and he’s glad he did because he thought it was a great program.

"Louisiana has a storied aviation history we are proud to showcase. This exhibit not only honors our past but will also inspire future generations to reach for the skies,” said Susan Maclay, Interim Director of the Louisiana State Museum in a press release. "Visitors will be captivated by the handcrafted scale model display that brings this chapter of aviation history to life.”

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: New Orleans airport exhibit recognizes Pineville airship inventor