ballooning

This is the John Wanamaker (now Macy's) store in Philadelphia. The statue of William Penn atop City Hall can be seen behind the balloon.

No, this is the John Wanamaker store at Broadway and Tenth Avenue in New York City. The balloon was launched from the rooftop here on July 8, 1911. It intended to go to Philadelphia, but got lost in fog, and ended up in West Nyack. The New York Times ran a story on July 9, 1911: query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9506E0D71431E233A... Another Bain/LOC photo of the Wanamaker balloon: And another: Balloonist Leo Stevens in the basket of the Wanamaker balloon:

Wystan: Thanks for pointing us to the story of the Wanamaker balloon. We'll add the location and date to the description next time we update the record.

The picture was taken at Broadway and Tenth Street in Manhattan and in the background is the tallest building in New York City at the time, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower, built in 1909. This gives us the direction that the photographer is pointing. He was looking Northeast up Broadway.

I would like to find info on the correct birthdate for Leo Stevens. Many sources give 1876-1877 but that can't be right. Would also like to verify the dates of his two marriages, the first to Julia (ca 1897), and the second to Laura (ca 1925). Thx. Allen allenametATaol.com

I don't think this "[d]rawing shows two views" from the same perspective, but rather one view from an airborne viewer's perspective plus the shadow and halo the balloonists themselves might see in the clouds below.

A husband and wife from Calhoun,/ Flew each in a hot air balloon./ Despite her objections,/ He would not ask directions,/ And they were last seen southwest of Cancun.

Oh, my! Are there more photos from this event? I’d love to see more.

plaisanter~ Only one or two, I'm afraid. None with an airborne balloon and this was the most exciting of the attempt to inflate it...