"Police examining the window fromwhich Charles A. Lindbergh's baby was kidnapped, Hopewell, New Jersey." March 2, 1932. Library of Congress
Renowned aviator Charles Lindbergh was catapulted into global stardom after triumphantly completing the first solo nonstop Transatlantic flight in 1927. Just five years later, in 1932, this fame would lead to the kidnapping and murder of his toddler son. The high profile tragedy captivated the nation and resulted in the passage of the Federal Kidnapping Act or "Lindbergh Law." This legislation gave the F.B.I. jurisdiction over kidnapping investigations, a triumph which continues to save thousands of lives each year.
The Lindberghs and the press in Nanking, 1931. Manuscripts & Archives, Yale University
"Fame is a kind of death"
-Anne Morrow Lindbergh, 1977
"Sightseers near the site of the discovery of the corpse of the Lindbergh baby...Refreshments were sold to the curious onlookers." May 12, 1932. AP Photo. Press of Atlantic City
Charles Lindbergh Jr., 1931. Manuscripts & Archives, Yale University
Lucky Lindy by Nat Shilkret and the Victor Orchestra