Montgomery Memorial facts for kids
The Montgomery Memorial is a special monument in Otay Mesa, San Diego. It was built to honor John J. Montgomery, a brave inventor. John Montgomery made some of the first glider flights way back in the 1880s! This monument was officially opened on May 21, 1950. You can find it right next to the Montgomery-Waller Recreation Center.
The most amazing part of the monument is a huge, shiny wing. It's 93 feet tall and made of stainless steel! This wing was actually a test part for a large airplane called the Consolidated B-32 Dominator. Because of this big, silver wing, many local people also call the monument the Silver Wing.
Building the Memorial
Planning the Monument
In 1945, the San Diego County government bought 7 acres of land. Their plan was to create a monument to honor John J. Montgomery. By March 1946, they bought 18 more acres. This extra land was for a new place called Montgomery Park.
The San Diego Junior Chamber of Commerce helped a lot with buying the land. Paul Mannen and Gordon Wiggins led this effort. Bob Wilson helped research the project. He later became a Congressman, representing California in the government.
Visiting the Site
On April 1, 1946, John Montgomery's wife, Regina Cleary, visited San Diego. She came to see where the monument would be built. She also reviewed the plans for the special memorial.
Designing the Memorial
A famous designer named Lloyd Ruocco created the monument. He was known for his modern style. Around the base of the monument, there's a special walkway. It has the names of other important aviators carved into the stone. These are pilots who flew after Montgomery.
Close by, there is also a tablet. This tablet has a message carved into it. It tells about John Montgomery's amazing winged flights.
The Dedication Ceremony
The Montgomery Memorial was officially opened on Sunday, May 21, 1950. John Montgomery's brother, James Montgomery, and his sister, Jane Montgomery, were there. Robert Wilson was the leader of the Montgomery Memorial Committee. William Brotherton was the host for the ceremony.
Jerome Rudrauff presented the Memorial. He was the President of the San Diego Junior Chamber of Commerce. James A. Robbins, who led the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, formally accepted the monument.
Recognized as a Landmark
California Historical Landmark
The Montgomery Memorial is very important. It is recognized as a California Historical Landmark. Its official number is #711. This means it's a significant place in California's history.
San Diego Historic Landmark
It is also a Historic Landmark for the city of San Diego. The San Diego Historical Resources Board gave it the number #13. This shows its importance to the local area.
Nearby Recreation Centers
Montgomery-Waller Recreation Center
The land that was first bought for Montgomery Park changed over time. In 1964, it became the Montgomery-Waller Recreational Center. This happened after the family of Luckie Waller donated more land. They wanted a park named after her son.
Silver Wing Recreation Center
In the 1970s, another recreation center opened nearby. It was named the Silver Wing Recreation Center. This name was inspired by the tall, shiny wing of the Montgomery Memorial.
Early Hang Gliding Events
Also in the 1970s, a special event took place near the monument. It was an early hang glider "Montgomery Meet." People gathered on the hill near the monument to fly hang gliders.
See also
