Double Eagle II, (sculpture).

Double Eagle II, (sculpture).

Unknown, sculptor.

Double Eagle II, (sculpture).

Double Eagle Two, (sculpture).

1981. Dedicated Aug. 11, 1981.

Sculpture: sheet metal and wood; Base: brick and concrete.

Sculpture: approx. H. 15 ft. x W. 9 ft.; Brick base: approx. 38 in. x 5 ft. x 4 ft. 1 in.; Concrete base: approx. 2 ft. x 6 1/2 ft. x 5 ft. 2 in.

(On base of sculpture:) ALBUQUERQUE/N. M./and Massachusetts/Crew/The gang from ELECTRIC FLYER/and Richard Schwobel/W. C. "Doc" Wiley/Sid Parmey & Ed Yost, mfg./Jim Mitchell/Kent, Robert Reif/Richard Reif, Jack Feifert & George Fishback/Pilots/Maxie Anderson/Ben L. Abruzzo/Larry Newman (Incised on panel on base:) LAUNCHING SITE OF THE FIRST/SUCCESSFUL TRANSATLANTIC BALLOON/FLIGHT AUG. 11TH-17TH 1978/DOUBLE EAGLE II/BEN ABRUZZO/MAXIE ANDERSON/LARRY NEWMAN (PRESQUE/ISLE and MAINE are incised to the left and right respectively of the three names) (On right side:) The gang from Sardia Peak Tram and Ranchers Exploration (At rear:) Sponsor-Courtesy Dodge (list follows)/ABC Sports/Albuquerque N. M. and Maine (On park donors plaque:) AUGUST 11, 1981 (65 names) (On marker below base:) BEN ABRUZZO JUNE 9, 1930-FEB. 11, 1985/MAXIE ANDERSON SEPT. 10, 1934-JUNE 27, 1983/LARRY NEWMAN SEPT. 28, 1947- unsigned

Sculpture is a replica of the Double Eagle II balloon. The inflated balloon is silver and brown and is attached to a red and orange catamaran. The piece is installed on a two-tiered square base.

Architecture -- Vehicle -- Balloon

Homage -- Abruzzo, Ben

Homage -- Anderson, Maxie

Homage -- Newman, Larry

Occupation -- Transportation -- Pilot

Outdoor Sculpture -- Maine -- Presque Isle

Administered by City of Presque Isle, Department of Parks and Recreation, 270 Main Street, Presque Isle, Maine

Located Maxie Anderson Memorial Park, Off Route 1, Presque Isle, Maine

Commissioned by the Spragueville Extension, local groups, individuals and businesses to commemorate the first successful trans-Atlantic balloon flight of the Double Eagle II, which started in Presque Isle, Maine on Aug. 11, 1978 and concluded on Aug. 17, 1978 in Miserey, France. The site of the sculpture was the launching point for the flight. The site itself was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It was part of a field owned by Mr. and Mrs. Merle Sprague, later purchased by the Extension for the purpose of erecting the monument. The Presque Isle work was created by the students of the Northern Maine Vocational Technical Institute Migrant Summer Training and the Aroostook County Action Program Summer Youth Employment Program. IAS files include related articles from the Star-Herald (Presque Isle, ME), Time Magazine, Aug. 28, 1978 and Newsweek, Aug. 28, 1978.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Maine survey, 1994.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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