I’m a bit ashamed to admit that I’d already been to Cornelia Fort Airpark, the former airport turned East Nashville park, a handful of times before I knew anything about the pioneering woman it’s named for. Cornelia Fort, the first Tennessee woman licensed as a commercial pilot, was working as a civilian flight instructor in Oahu on Dec. 7, 1941. She was in the sky with an apprentice when her quick instincts and skill as a pilot saved the life of her student when she grabbed the controls and narrowly avoided a midair collision with enemy aircraft. Fort was one of the first airborne witnesses to the attack on Pearl Harbor. In 1943, Fort died in a midair collision in Texas during a military ferrying mission, making her the first female American pilot in history to die while on active military duty. For those new to Fort’s story or just interested in learning more about this legendary daughter of Nashville, the Shelby Bottoms Nature Center is hosting a Cornelia Fort History Hike, focusing on the life and legacy of Fort as well as the history and conservation efforts of the airpark. Meet at the trailhead at Cornelia Fort Airpark for an evening stroll and a fascinating look into one of Nashville’s most iconic figures.
6 p.m. at Cornelia Fort Airpark
1199 Shadow Lane, No. 1093
