Highlights from May 21 in Chicago History

On May 21, 1932, Amelia Earhart, known as the “conqueror of the Atlantic,” completed a groundbreaking solo flight from New Jersey to Northern Island. She became the first woman to accomplish this feat, flying 2,026½ miles in 14 hours and 54 minutes. Earhart, a Hyde Park High School alumna, told the Tribune, “I made this flight just for fun… I have always wanted to do the flight myself and my husband is a good sport.” A month later, she landed in Chicago, where she received a medal for her trans-Atlantic flight during the bicentennial celebration of George Washington’s birth. During this visit, she emphasized her professional identity, stating, “Though married, I prefer to be known professionally by the name I made famous.”

Maj. G.E. Brower, commander of the first pursuit group at Selfridge Field, led an aerial escort for Earhart, alongside her husband, George Palmer Putnam.

Notable Weather Records

Weather records from Chicago on May 21 highlight a high temperature of 92 degrees in 1977 and a low of 31 degrees in 2002. Precipitation reached 1.96 inches in 2018, with trace snowfall recorded in 1969.

Historic Lake Michigan Shipwreck

In 1891, the Thomas Hume schooner disappeared after leaving Chicago, bound for Muskegon, Michigan. The ship was last seen with Capt. Harry Albrightson and six crew members. Unlike its companion, the Rouse Simmons, which turned back due to rough waters, the Thomas Hume vanished and remains at the bottom of Lake Michigan, 147 feet down and 22 miles from Belmont Harbor.

Lindbergh’s Historic Flight

On May 21, 1927, Charles Lindbergh made history by landing in Paris after a nonstop flight from New York. This marked the first solo trans-Atlantic flight. His plane, “The Spirit of St. Louis,” completed the journey in 33 hours and 29 minutes. His first words upon arrival were, “Am I in Paris?” to which Tribune reporter Henry Wales responded, “You’re here.”

Fastest Night Game at Comiskey Park

The White Sox played the fastest nine-inning game in American League history on May 21, 1943, under the lights at Comiskey Park. They defeated the Washington Senators 1-0 in just 1 hour and 29 minutes.

2017 Art Theft

In 2017, a jewel-encrusted Asprey & Co. mystery clock, valued at $425,000, was stolen from an antiques exhibition at Merchandise Mart.