FREE MOVIE · LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Bird's-eye view of San Francisco, Cal., from a balloon

As early as 1874, passenger balloon flights were being made over San Francisco. San Franciscans - and Americans in general - were fascinated with the thrills and dangers of flight. Although balloon technology had not advanced greatly by the turn of the century, attempts at man-powered flight were sustaining public interest. The era of powered flight arrived in 1903 with the Wright brothers' flight at Kitty Hawk…

Public domain — the Library of Congress knows of no copyright restrictions for this film. Source: Library of Congress, National Screening Room · archive record. Video streams straight from the archive; PatchTV does not host or relay it.