Park Van Tassel facts for kids

Park Albert Van Tassel (born 1853, died 1930) was a brave and important person in early American aviation. He was one of the first people to perform amazing shows in the air using balloons and parachutes. Park Van Tassel made the very first balloon flights in places like New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado. He also helped create new ways for people to jump safely from balloons using parachutes. His exciting shows helped introduce ballooning and parachuting to people all over the world. He even helped women become involved in these thrilling new sports!

First Flights in New Mexico

In May 1882, Park Van Tassel announced he wanted to make a balloon flight in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It took a whole day to fill his balloon, named City of Albuquerque, with gas. Finally, at 6:15 PM on July 4, 1882, he took off! This was the first time a human had ever flown in New Mexico.

Van Tassel launched from an area near Second Street. His balloon slowly rose to a height of about 11,000 feet, even though it was only two-thirds full of gas. He landed safely near the fairgrounds, and everyone thought his flight was a huge success!

Amazing Balloon Tours Around the World

An old newspaper ad for one of Park Van Tassel's daring parachute jumps in 1889.

Park Van Tassel traveled all over the American West, putting on exciting balloon shows. He visited places like Utah, New Orleans, California, Colorado, Kansas City, Missouri, Oregon, and Washington. In 1886, he even suggested in a science magazine that it might be possible to fly a balloon all the way across North America! At the time, this idea seemed impossible.

Inventing the Parachute

Park Van Tassel worked with another daring aviator named Thomas Scott Baldwin. Together, they helped invent a new type of parachute. On January 30, 1887, Baldwin used this parachute to make the very first parachute jump in the western United States, in San Francisco.

The Van Tassel Troupe's Global Adventures

Van Tassel later formed his own group called the Van Tassel Troupe. They traveled the world, performing incredible balloon ascensions and parachute jumps. They were in friendly competition with other brave performers like Baldwin and Percival G. Spencer.

The Van Tassel Troupe made history in many places:

• They performed the first successful parachute jump in Hawaii.
• They were responsible for the first balloon flights and parachute jumps by women in Australia.
• They made some of the earliest balloon flights in India.
• They performed the first flight in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Many of these events were also important for women in early aviation. The Van Tassel Troupe helped show that women could be just as daring and skilled in the air.

Life in California

After his world tours, Park Van Tassel returned to the United States. He settled in the San Francisco Bay area and continued his ballooning in Oakland. For a short time, he even helped John Joseph Montgomery, a famous glider pioneer, with high-altitude glider flights near Santa Clara.

Van Tassel also helped start important groups like the Pacific Aero Club and the Oakland Aero Club. He made several fun flights in his large balloon, which he named City of Oakland. In 1921, he even got a patent for a mechanical toy parachute!

Park Van Tassel's Family

Park Van Tassel was married several times. One of his wives, Clara A. Coykendall, became famous in her own right. In 1888, Clara made history by becoming the first woman to make a parachute jump in the western United States.

Park Van Tassel passed away on October 24, 1930, in Oakland, after a heart attack.

People Who Flew with Van Tassel

Many people were part of Park Van Tassel's amazing aerial shows. Some of them even used the "Van Tassell" name for their performances:

• Clara Van Tassel (his wife)
• Joe Lawrence, known as "Joseph Van Tassell"
• James Price, known as "James Van Tassell"
• Valerie Frietas, known as "Valerie Van Tassell"
• Gladys Frietas, known as "Gladys Van Tassell"
• Jennette Rummary, known as "Jennette Van Tassell"
• Thomas Scott Baldwin
• William Ivy, known as "Ivy Baldwin"
• John Joseph Montgomery

Honors and Exhibits

A display about Park Van Tassel and ballooning at the Albuquerque International Sunport.

In September 2021, a new exhibit opened at the Albuquerque International Sunport. This exhibit celebrates Park Van Tassel and the exciting history of ballooning in New Mexico.