Exactly 100 years ago today — on Saturday, July 15, 1916 — William Edward Boeing incorporated Pacific Aero Products Company at a cost of $100,000.00. He purchased 998 of the 1,000 stock certificates issued and moved the operation to the shipyard he bought in 1910; and what is now known as The Boeing Company was born.
Many years later, this “Red Barn” building where the company was born was moved to the Museum of Flight in Seattle — the same site where the Freddie Awards occurred in 2014 — and The Boeing Company celebrates its centennial today as the largest aerospace company in the world.
The Boeing Company Was Born 100 Years Ago Today
Although today is the actual date of its anniversary, The Boeing Company has been celebrating 100 years of “making the impossible, possible” all year with events, activities and commemorations to celebrate “not only our first century of innovation but also the people and moments that inspire us to live by our founder Bill Boeing’s philosophy — ‘build something better.’”
Plenty of Things For You to Do to Join In the Celebration
You can do plenty of things to join in the celebration of the centennial of The Boeing Company — or you can at least celebrate in your own way — by:
- Learning more about the history of The Boeing Company; and one way to do so is to peruse the information pertaining to all of its products — yes, that includes its line of commercial aircraft over the years
- Watching plenty of videos
- Viewing a chronology of its history, starting on Saturday, October 1, 1881 when William E. Boeing was born in Detroit
- Reading stories pertaining to The Boeing Company — and there are plenty of them. You are encouraged to share your own story as well
- Browsing every issue, every article, and every advertisement of Aviation Week from 1916 through 2016, which should keep you busy for days — if not weeks
- Perusing television commercials over the years
- Watching The Age of Aerospace, which is a documentary comprised of five episodes that will require approximately 3.5 hours of your time
- Purchasing some special items which commemorate the centennial of The Boeing Company — everything from apparel to books — especially if you are an ardent collector of aviation memorabilia
- Researching the educational resources of The Boeing Company
…and there is a whole lot more which you can do. You have been warned…
Special Livery Commemorates Boeing Anniversary
Scott Mackenzie of Travel Codex — who is also the editor of InsideFlyer — attended an event of Alaska Airlines which included the unveiling of a special livery for one airplane which is dedicated to the centennial anniversary of The Boeing Company.
“Alaska Airlines announced a donation of $100,000 in Boeing’s name to the Washington Opportunity Scholarship Fund”, Mackenzie reported in this article, which includes photographs of the event and links to other custom liveries of Alaska Airlines. “Boeing promptly matched the donation, raising a total of $200,000.”
The Washington State Opportunity Scholarship is “a unique partnership helping to build the next generation of scientists, engineers, health care professionals and other professionals in high-demand fields.”
Summary
Congratulations to The Boeing Company on its centennial. May it be celebrated proudly to the fullest; and may its next 100 years be even better.
Source: The Boeing Company.
