Thursday, 7:00 pm at the Main Museum Building...a special museum fundraising event

On September 16, 1910, Bessica Faith Medlar Raiche made the first accredited solo flight by a woman in the United States. This first woman aviator, which few people have ever heard of, was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois.

To celebrate this centennial achevement, Midway Village Museum will be presenting an original one-woman play written by Jessica MacDonald titled Flying Solo: The Remarkable Bessica Raiche First Woman Aviator of America featuring local actor Lydia Berger as Bessica. Prior to the 45 minute play, there will be a special performance of popular music of the 1900 to 1920 era arranged and performed by Julie Marek.  Additional activities relating to the early history of woman aviators are also being planned.

Admission for this special museum fundraising event is $20 per person.  Advance registration is required.  Space is limited to 150 people.  Revenue from this centennial celebration will go to support our museum education outreach programs.

Call Mark Herman, Curator of Education at 815 397-9112 ext. 105 for registration and additional information or email him at mark.herman@midwayvillage.com

Many years before Amelia Earhart and Sally Ride there was the remarkable Bessica Medlar Raiche.  Bessica was an active woman with a variety of interests who graduated from Rockford High School in 1893.  During a time when society restricted a woman's choices for her life, Bessica strived to be the best at everything that she found new and challenging.  She studied painting in Paris, drove an automobile when most women were still being escorted in horse drawn carriages, became one of the first woman gynecologists in America and, with her husband Frank, designed and constructed aeroplanes in the parlor of their New York home.

Experience the inspirational story of Bessica Faith Medlar Raiche in an original one woman play on the centennial anniversary day of her first historic solo flight.  After months of research by Midway Village Museum staff, the personality and adventures of this little-known woman aviation pioneer will come to life.  This play will portray Dr. Raiche in the year 1920, ten years after her first flight in Mineola, New York.

Flying Solo: The Remarkable Bessica Raiche First Woman Aviator of America is also available for bookings for outreach locations at other times during this special centennial year...call Jessica MacDonald, Special Events Coordinator, at 815 397-9112 ext. 104 for details or email her at jessica.macdonald@midwayvillage.com

This program was partially supported by grants from Hamilton Sundstrand UTC, the Rockford Area Arts Council and General Mills.