John Purroy Mitchel, Boy Mayor of New York.

Monument to NYC Mayor who Died Falling out of a Plane

Known as "The Boy Mayor of New York," John Purroy Mitchel was New York City's youngest-ever mayor, elected to office when he was only 34. He was soundly defeated for re-election, and died less than six months after he left office, at age 38, while he was training to join the Army Air Corp in World War I. He fell 500 feet out of his biplane after apparently forgetting to fasten his seat belt.

The mayor's head was sculpted by Adolph Weinman, the same guy who designed the Mercury dime and Walking Liberty half-dollar.

"In Memory of John Purroy Mitchel. July 19, 1879 - July 6, 1918. Mayor of the City of New York 1914-1918. Died in the service of the United States."

Monument to NYC Mayor who Died Falling out of a Plane

Address:: Park Drive N. and E. 90th St., New York, NY
Directions:: Take the #4, 5, or 6 trains to 86th St. in Manhattan. Walk three blocks west to Central Park, then four blocks north. The monument is built into the side of the Reservoir, a half-block west into Central Park, facing east toward 90th St.

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November 25, 2009