CAPTIVA ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY The Captiva Island Historical Society will host Benjamin Barrett, author of “The Spirit Behind the Spirit of St. Louis” and grandson of Harold “Bix” Bixby, on Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. at the Captiva Civic Center on Captiva.

The Captiva Island Historical Society is taking reservations for its next program of the season.

Featuring author Benjamin Barrett, “The Spirit Behind the Spirit of St. Louis” will be held on Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. at the Captiva Civic Center on Captiva. The grandson of Harold “Bix” Bixby and “self-appointed family historian,” he will speak about his grandfather and discuss highlights from his book on his grandfather’s varied career in aviation, entrepreneurship, conservation and public relations.

Bixby was “The Spirit Behind the Spirit of St. Louis,” as Barrett explains in his book, and at the heart of the St. Louis group that funded Charles Lindbergh’s solo trans-Atlantic flight on May 21, 1927.

“As president of the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, Bixby was credited with naming Lindbergh’s plane ‘The Spirit of St. Louis’ to promote the city of St. Louis as an aviation hub for the country,” the CIHS reported. “Subsequently, Bixby was hired by Pan American Airways to explore and pioneer passenger and airmail routes between the U.S. and China, retiring as vice president of PAA in 1955.”

During his retirement on Captiva, Bixby worked with Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling on conservation issues. The two often traveled together to Tallahassee to lobby the state government to set aside land for a wildlife refuge on Sanibel. It is known today as the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

CAPTIVA ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY “The Spirit Behind the Spirit of St. Louis” by Ben Barrett

The CIHS added that Bixby was one of the original three men to serve on the commission for the newly-formed Captiva Erosion Prevention District and work on mitigating the island’s erosion.

Copies of Barrett’s book will be available for purchase.

Tickets are $15 and include snacks.

A cash bar will be available.

“The Captiva Island Historical Society recognizes and appreciates the support of The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company as the presenting sponsor of our programs,” the CIHS reported.

For tickets, visit http://www.captivaislandhistoricalsociety.org/ or call 239-472-2323.

For more information, visit the website, call or email mail@captivaislandhistoricalsociety.org.

The Captiva Civic Center is at 11550 Chapin Lane, Captiva.

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IF YOU GO

What

“The Spirit Behind the Spirit of St. Louis”

When

Feb. 13 at 6 p.m.

Where

Captiva Civic Center, 11550 Chapin Lane, Captiva

Details

Tickets are $15