Aeronautical engineer Donald A. Hall working at his desk — Flying Over Time Collection Donald A. Hall Estate

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Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

The Donald A. Hall Estate Collection contains the definitive, original 1927 engineering blueprints, technical notes, and historical photographic negatives documenting the design and construction of the Spirit of St. Louis (Ryan NYP).

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948 images from the family-held record. Search captions and descriptions, and open any image to view it in full.

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948 images

A bustling street-level view looking down a narrow Lower Manhattan canyon filled with pedestrians in 1920s cloche hats and straw boaters during the Lindbergh celebrations. — Lower Manhattan Street Canyon During Lindbergh Celebrations (1927)
Donald A. Hall Sr. visited New York City during the June 1927 celebrations honoring Charles Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis, capturing this lively Financial District street scene with his Leica camera.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A harbor view of the Lower Manhattan skyline from the water, featuring the arched Pier A fireboat station, the Whitehall Building, and the Standard Oil Building. — Lower Manhattan Skyline and Battery Park from New York Harbor (1927)
The towering architecture of Manhattan viewed from New York Harbor provided a stark contrast to the California aircraft factories where Donald A. Hall Sr. designed the Spirit of St. Louis, marking a triumphant homecoming to his native city in 1927.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

The iconic Gothic spire of the Woolworth Building framed dramatically through the grand classical arch of the Manhattan Municipal Building. — Woolworth Building Framed Through the Municipal Building Arch (1927)
The iconic Woolworth Building rises through the arch of the Manhattan Municipal Building in this 1927 photograph. Hall captured the monumental architectural geometry of New York City during the festivities surrounding Lindbergh's transatlantic victory.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A wide perspective looking down the wooden pedestrian promenade of the Brooklyn Bridge, framing its massive Gothic stone arches and suspension cables against the Manhattan skyline. — Brooklyn Bridge Promenade and Gothic Stone Towers (1927)
Looking back toward his Brooklyn roots and Pratt Institute education, Donald A. Hall Sr. photographed the Brooklyn Bridge promenade in 1927, his engineering eye drawn to its pioneering suspension cable structure.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

An elevated view looking up the East River from the Brooklyn Bridge, showing working steam tugs and the historic Arbuckle Brothers industrial complex along the DUMBO waterfront. — East River Maritime Commerce and Arbuckle Industrial Waterfront (1927)
The industrial energy of New York Harbor captured by Chief Engineer Donald A. Hall Sr. in 1927 from the Brooklyn Bridge. The East River was filled with maritime commerce, steam tugs, and waterfront warehouses during his celebration stay.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A dizzying downward perspective from the Equitable Building looking straight down at the Gothic spire, roof, and historic burial ground of Trinity Church on Broadway. — High-Angle Vertigo View of Trinity Church and Broadway (1927)
Shot from high up in the Equitable Building at 120 Broadway, Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this dramatic downward view of Trinity Church and its historic cemetery in 1927, demonstrating an aviator's aerial perspective from one of the world's tallest office towers.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

An expansive elevated panorama looking north across Manhattan's commercial avenues, rooftop water tanks, and steam vents from the heights of the Woolworth Building. — Manhattan Urban Grid from the Woolworth Building (1927)
From the observation gallery of the Woolworth Building in 1927, Donald A. Hall Sr. documented the sprawling Manhattan metropolis. The national celebrations for Lindbergh brought the young Ryan Airlines engineer directly into the heart of New York's skyline.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

An elevated perspective looking directly at the colonnaded tower and gilded Civic Fame statue of the Manhattan Municipal Building above Park Row terminal. — Manhattan Municipal Building and Civic Fame from Woolworth Tower (1927)
The geometric grandeur of the Manhattan Municipal Building viewed from the sky-high Woolworth Building. Hall applied his precise technical eye to document McKim, Mead & White's civic masterpiece during his June 1927 visit.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A steep downward view overlooking the Broadway canyon, the tiered facade of the St. Paul Building, and crowds lining the street during Lindbergh celebration week. — Broadway Canyon and St. Paul Building from Woolworth Gallery (1927)
Looking down Broadway from the Woolworth Building in June 1927, Donald A. Hall Sr. photographed the historic canyon where Lindbergh's massive ticker-tape parade unfolded, showing the crowds and architecture that defined the aviation celebration.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A panoramic vista from the Woolworth Building showing the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges spanning the East River, with the copper dome of the World Building in the foreground. — East River Bridges and New York World Building Dome (1927)
The busy waterways and suspension bridges of New York City captured from the Woolworth Building in June 1927. Featuring the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges alongside the Pulitzer World Building dome, this image preserves Hall's panoramic homecoming to New York.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A high-angle view looking west from the Woolworth Building over the Art Deco Barclay-Vesey Building toward Hudson River piers and an underway ocean liner. — Barclay-Vesey Building and Hudson River from Woolworth Tower (1927)
Captured from the 58th-floor gallery of the Woolworth Building in June 1927, Donald A. Hall Sr. framed the newly completed Art Deco Barclay-Vesey Building, overlooking active Hudson River shipping piers and the Ninth Avenue Elevated tracks.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A high-angle downward perspective from the Woolworth Building over City Hall Park, showing a massive crowd gathered in front of City Hall for the Lindbergh reception. — City Hall and Lindbergh Reception Crowd from Woolworth Tower (1927)
Looking down at City Hall Park in June 1927, Donald A. Hall Sr. documented the historic civic reception for Charles Lindbergh hosted by Mayor Jimmy Walker, with thousands gathered on the plaza to honor the transatlantic flight of the Spirit of St. Louis.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

An authentic aerial view looking down from an aircraft at the Polo Grounds stadium, Coogan's Bluff, and the IRT elevated train yard beside the Harlem River. — Aerial View of the Polo Grounds and Coogan's Bluff (1927)
Piloting or flying over Upper Manhattan in June 1927, Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this rare aerial photograph of the Polo Grounds, showing the home of the New York Giants alongside the extensive 159th Street elevated railway yards and the Harlem River.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A view across Los Angeles Harbor toward the historic Angels Gate Lighthouse at the end of the breakwater, with a U.S. Navy cage-mast battleship steaming in the distance. — Angels Gate Lighthouse and Pacific Fleet Battleship (1927)
Documenting the San Pedro maritime gateway in 1927, Donald A. Hall Sr. captured the Los Angeles Harbor Lighthouse at Angels Gate with a Pacific Battle Fleet battleship steaming offshore under coal smoke.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A view over the wooden bow of a canoe floating on calm ocean water, looking toward steep, rugged mountain slopes rising directly from the shoreline. — Coastal Mountain Waters from Canoe Bow (1927)
Exploring the Southern California and Catalina Island coastal waters by canoe in 1927, Donald A. Hall Sr. framed this tranquil perspective looking toward steep coastal ridges rising from the Pacific.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

An evening view across the beach toward the illuminated Santa Monica Pier, showcasing the Moorish arches of the La Monica Ballroom and the adjacent roller coaster. — Santa Monica Pier and La Monica Ballroom at Twilight (1927)
Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this twilight study of the Santa Monica Pier in 1927, showcasing the illuminated facade of the historic La Monica Ballroom and beachfront amusement coasters reflecting on the water.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A harbor view from a vessel showing the Los Angeles Steamship Company terminal warehouse, water tower, and the twin-funneled passenger liner SS Yale or SS Harvard. — LASSCO Terminal and Coastal Steamship at Los Angeles Harbor (1927)
Dockside at Berth 156 in San Pedro, Donald A. Hall Sr. documented 1927 Pacific coastal commerce, featuring the Los Angeles Steamship Company facilities and a twin-funneled coastal liner preparing for transit.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A night long-exposure photograph showing the illuminated outlines and undulating tracks of the wooden roller coaster on the Santa Monica Pier. — Santa Monica Pier Roller Coaster at Night (1927)
Mastering night exposure calculations with his Leica camera, Donald A. Hall Sr. photographed the illuminated wooden roller coaster on the Santa Monica Pier in 1927, capturing light trails across the oceanfront.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A wooden runabout speedboat carving a turn while towing an aquaplaner standing on a surf board, with a float biplane and ship in the distant background. — Speedboat Towing Aquaplaner with Distant Seaplane (1927)
Capturing high-speed marine recreation in 1927, Donald A. Hall Sr. froze the motion of a speedboat towing an aquaplaner off the Southern California coast, with a naval seaplane resting on the water in the distance.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

An aerial perspective looking south along the San Diego coastline, showing the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Pier, the crescent of La Jolla Shores, and La Jolla Cove. — Aerial View of Scripps Pier and La Jolla Shores (1927)
Airborne over San Diego County in 1927 aboard a Ryan aircraft, Chief Engineer Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this expansive aerial view of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Pier and the sweeping coastline of La Jolla Shores.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A daytime view of the historic La Monica Ballroom extending over the ocean on the Santa Monica Pier. — La Monica Ballroom by Day, Santa Monica (1927)
Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this daytime view of the sprawling La Monica Ballroom situated on the Santa Monica Pier. This 1927 photograph preserves the historic coastal California architecture before the ballroom and parts of the pier were later destroyed by a severe storm.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A dramatic Pacific Ocean sunset with layered, dark storm clouds stretching over calm waters toward a distant coastal headland. — Pacific Ocean Sunset Over Santa Monica Bay (1927)
Capturing the atmospheric dynamics of coastal California, Donald A. Hall Sr. photographed this moody sunset over Santa Monica Bay in 1927. His Leica camera preserved subtle tonal gradations across layered clouds and the darkening Pacific horizon.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A low-angle maritime perspective of a flat-topped coastal promontory and sheer cliffs meeting calm ocean waters under an overcast sky. — Coastal Promontory and Ocean Bluff (1927)
Documenting the maritime approaches of Southern California in 1927, Donald A. Hall Sr. framed this prominent coastal bluff from the water. The composition emphasizes clean horizontal lines and the stark transition from calm ocean swells to rugged marine terraces.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A rugged, volcanic coastal headland with steep rocky cliffs and small offshore sea stacks rising from a gentle ocean swell. — Rocky Headland and Offshore Sea Stacks (1927)
Photographed during a 1927 coastal excursion, Donald A. Hall Sr. recorded this rugged island headland and weathered sea stacks. The image highlights the raw geological formations and untouched marine perimeter of the Southern California coast.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

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