Local History
Texas Aviation Historical Markers: From Early Fields to the Space Age
Texas aviation history spans more than a century. These four historical markers document Fort Worth's first biplanes, the Stinson family's airport, the WASP training base at Avenger Field, and Moore Field's dual military career.
Photo: Erik Mclean / Pexels. Vintage biplane viewed from above.
In 1911, Fort Worth residents gathered on Main Street to watch biplanes circle downtown for the first time. Texas has more than 16,000 historical markers, including dozens that trace a full century of flight. RoadHistorical is a Texas historical preservation platform that puts all of them at your fingertips. This article covers four aviation markers you can drive to today.
Fort Worth's Flying Machines: 1911
Amon G. Carter Sr. wanted Fort Worth noticed. He personally recruited the International Aviators National Tour to the city in 1911. Crowds lined Main Street to watch biplanes bank and dive overhead. That same year, a pilot delivered the first airmail letter in Fort Worth by airplane.
World War I changed everything. The Army established training fields across Texas, drawn by flat terrain and year-round flying weather. Lt. Benjamin Foulois arrived at Fort Sam Houston in February 1910 and flew the Army's Wright biplane on March 2. By 1917, San Antonio had multiple active airfields dedicated to training military pilots.
Flying Machines Historical Marker stands on the west side of Main Street between 6th and 7th Streets in downtown Fort Worth. The inscription traces the city's aviation journey from those first biplane exhibitions to its role as a major military aviation hub during both World Wars.
714 Main St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
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Stinson Field: Texas's First Major Civilian Airport
In 1916, siblings Eddie, Jack, Marjorie, and Katherine Stinson leased 500 acres from the city of San Antonio. They built Stinson Field on that land. Katherine and Marjorie were already well-known aviators who had learned to fly as teenagers. Marjorie was the first woman in the U.S. to receive a flight instructor's certificate.
After World War I, the field became San Antonio's civil airport. Charles Lindbergh kept a plane there during his time at nearby Brooks Field. Stinson Municipal Airport still operates today. It's America's second-oldest continuously operating airport.
Stinson Airport Historical Marker stands at 8535 Mission Road in San Antonio, Bexar County. The inscription records the Stinson family's role in founding one of Texas's most enduring aviation landmarks.
8535 Mission Rd, San Antonio, TX 78214
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Avenger Field: The Women Who Flew for the Army
In February 1943, Avenger Field in Sweetwater became an all-female military installation. The Army trained Women's Airforce Service Pilots there. They flew military aircraft to free male pilots for overseas combat. It was the only all-female military airfield the U.S. Army ever operated.
The program accepted 1,830 women. Of those, 1,074 earned their silver wings. They flew 60 million miles on operational duty. Thirty-eight gave their lives in service. The WASP program disbanded on December 20, 1944. In 2009, Congress awarded the WASP the Congressional Gold Medal.
W.A.S.P. Training Base: Avenger Field Historical Marker stands at 518 Avenger Field Road in Sweetwater, Nolan County. The inscription records the full scope of the program from its February 1943 opening to the 1,074 wings earned before disbanding.
518 Avenger Field Rd, Sweetwater, TX 79556
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Moore Field: Three Cities Built an Airfield Together
In 1941, the cities of Edinburg, McAllen, and Mission pooled resources to fund a military training airfield in the Rio Grande Valley. They named it Moore Field, honoring Lt. Frank M. Moore, a pilot killed in World War I.
The field trained thousands of airmen during World War II and closed in 1945. During the Korean War, it reopened as Moore Air Force Base. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has used the site for research since 1960.
Moore Field Historical Marker stands on North Moorefield Road near Edinburg, in Hidalgo County. The inscription connects the field's 1941 civilian origins to its career as a WWII training base, Korean War air base, and federal research site.
19693 N Moorefield Rd, Edinburg, TX 78541
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How RoadHistorical Finds These Markers
RoadHistorical's Discovery Mode runs in the background while you drive. When you pass within range of a Texas historical marker, your phone notifies you. You don't have to know the markers are there. The app finds them for you.
The AI Tour Guide answers questions the plaque can't. Ask who Lt. Benjamin Foulois was before he flew the Army's first airplane, or what happened to Avenger Field after the WASP program closed. Everything works offline, so you don't need cell coverage to explore.
Start Discovering Texas History Today
RoadHistorical is free to download on the App Store for iPhone. Download it here and turn on Discovery Mode before your next drive. Android users: sign up for early access at roadhistorical.app.