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Commission discusses adding context to Royal Airport marker on Charles Lindbergh’s views; preliminary design and cost estimates reviewed
Summary
The Monona Landmarks Commission reviewed options and cost estimates to add interpretive signage contextualizing Charles Lindbergh’s landing and his later anti-Semitic views at the Royal Airport marker; staff reported an estimated cost of roughly $1,200–$1,600 and suggested using city ‘books fund’ revenue to pay for design and fabrication.
The Monona Landmarks Commission on July 15 reviewed proposals to add interpretive signage near the Royal Airport marker that would provide historical context about Charles Lindbergh, including acknowledgement of his later nativist and anti-Semitic views. The commission previously decided not to remove the existing marker but to provide additional contextual material nearby.
Staff presented cost estimates and vendor recommendations. The State Historical Society–recommended vendor (the Bureau of Correctional Enterprises) provided fabrication quotes ranging roughly from $700 for an 18-by-24-inch aluminum panel to $850–$900 for a 24-by-36-inch panel, depending on mounting. A local design studio’s fees were quoted at about $250–$400 for panel design, with an optional additional $300 for installation; staff estimated the total project cost would likely fall between about $1,200 and $1,600 if design and installation were contracted out. Staff said the city’s “books fund” (funds derived from prior Landmarks book sales) has about $2,000 available and can be used for this purpose.
Commissioners discussed mounting options, material durability (a recommendation against wood posts), and site installation details such as whether a concrete pad or simple in-ground posts would be appropriate. They also discussed the content-development process: staff said the commission can provide bullet points and stakeholders to consult, and that the commission could ask local historical organizations and the Minnesota museum referenced in the packet for source material and sample wording. Several commissioners emphasized the value of working with historians or the museum that has handled similar contextual signage elsewhere.
No final design or text was approved at the meeting. Commissioners agreed to move the project forward in principle: staff will continue to refine a scope, collect sample wording and images, consult suggested historical partners, and return with a recommended panel size, design, and final cost estimate. Staff noted installation could be completed in-house to reduce cost if the commission prefers. The commission also discussed ensuring readability and appropriate image/text balance for visitors on the nearby trail.
