Charles Lindbergh with the "Spirit of St. Louis": Jacksonville, Florida

Charles Lindbergh (1902 – 1974) was an American aviator, author, inventor, military officer, explorer, and social activist. At age 25, Lindbergh, a U.S. Air Mail pilot, made his  33 1⁄2 hours prize-winning solo nonstop flight from Long Island, New York, to Le Bourget Field in Paris, France. He flew the distance of nearly 3,600 miles (5,800 km) in a single-seat, single-engine, purpose-built Ryan monoplane, Spirit of St. Louis. Lindbergh used his fame and the development of both commercial aviation and Air Mail services in the United States and the Americas. In March 1932, his infant son, Charles Jr., was kidnapped and murdered in what was dubbed the "Crime of the Century". Lindbergh supported the isolationist America First movement, which advocated that America remain neutral during the war, as had his father, Congressman Charles August Lindbergh, during World War I. Nevertheless, Lindbergh publicly supported the war effort after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and flew 50 combat missions in the Pacific Theater of World War II as a civilian consultant. In his later years, Lindbergh became a prolific prize-winning author, international explorer, inventor, and environmentalist.

Vintage photos from The State Archives of Florida shot before WWII. The State Archives of Florida is the central repository for the archives of Florida State Government. It is mandated by law to collect, preserve, and make available for research the historically significant records of the State, as well as private manuscripts, local government records, photographs, and other materials that complement the official State records. The images included here are part of The Florida Memory Program, which provides Web-based access to primary records that illustrate significant moments in Florida's history. The project also provides educational resources for students of all ages, and makes available collections for historical research. Florida Memory's goal is to make the collections of the State Archives available to the largest possible audience. Florida Memory is funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services.