by Art Reyes and Josh Farrar
Stinson Field is the second oldest operating airfield in the United States. Since 1915, Stinson Field has been serving the San Antonio community in many ways. Established by the Stinson Family, siblings Katherine, Marjorie, and Eddie, Stinson Field has supported a flight school, barn stormers (performance pilots), the U.S. Mail, the U.S. Army, major airlines, and many others groups and activities over the last 100 years.
In this lesson you will learn about the history of Stinson Field, including its use during US involvement in World War I (1917-18) and World War II (1941-45). You will also learn about the three incredible Stinson Siblings, Katherine, Marjorie, and Eddie, and there careers as pilots, flight instructors, airplane designers, and building architects. Finally, you will learn about current opportunities at Stinson Field for kids and teenagers. These opportunities include earning one’s pilot license to fly an airplane and learning about airplanes and aeronautics through STEM Programs (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and a Texas Aviation History Museum!
Stinson Field is staple of San Antonio history, continue below to learn about Stinson Field and the Stinson Family that made it a reality.
The Airfield
Stinson Field has served San Antonio for more than a century. Click the images below to learn more about Stinson Field’s long history and about its service to the nation during World War II.
The Stinson Family
The Stinson Family, three siblings including sisters Katherine and Marjorie, and their brother Eddie, brought aviation to San Antonio through opening and managing Stinson Field.
In 1913 the Stinson siblings arrived in San Antonio and started to fly airplanes in the city. In 1915 the Stinson siblings rented property on the south side of San Antonio and started the Stinson School of Flying.
Click the images below to learn more about the lives of the siblings in this extraordinary family and the locations that they visited during their travels.
Conclusion and Flying Further
Click the images below to visit the conclusion to this lesson on Stinson Field and the Stinson Family and to learn more about current opportunities for kids and teenagers at Stinson Field.
Bonus! Student Activities
We included these activities to help guide you through the website and make learning about Stinson Field and the Stinson Family much more fun! Use these downloadable files (found below) to search the website to answer questions and locate significant places to San Antonio’s aviation history.
^ Click the link above to download questions about the Stinson Siblings
^ Click the link above to download a map of San Antonio for a military airfield scavenger hunt
^ Click the link above to download a map of the US and help track the family travels of the Stinson Siblings
^ Click the link above for directions from the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum on building your own award-winning flyer. You don’t have to get a pilot’s license to fly your own airplane!
Credits
Website created by Art Reyes and Josh Farrar
Special thanks to Christina Williams for her research contributions
Special thanks to the Public History Program at St. Mary’s University and the City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation
