Connections Murals Public Art Project
THE INNOVATOR

Mural Location:
Clarity Eye Care, 619 6th Avenue
South wall

William C. Robinson (1884 - 1916) in front of his biplane with a group of school children, c. 1915.

Billy, sometimes called “Birdman,” Robinson moved to Grinnell at the age of 12. He was a handyman, tinkerer and bicycle repairman who became an aviation pioneer. He began to design and build flying machines and eventually set numerous flight records. In 1911, with the help of Charles Hink, Robinson constructed a 60-horsepower radial motor for his monoplane, one of the very earliest successful radial engines. His innovations for the radial motor pioneered the way for modern radial engines and led to the founding of the Grinnell Aeroplane Company. Sadly, Robinson died while attempting to set an altitude record on March 11, 1916. The tragic end to his promising life also meant the demise of the fledgling Grinnell company.

Grinnell has produced many inventors and innovators, among them Robert Noyce, who invented the integrated circuit and co-founded the Intel technology company, and Claude Ahrens, who invented the ubiquitous Miracle Whirl Merry-Go-Round. Others developed improvements for mechanical washing machines, harvesters, water softeners and much more.

A project of the Grinnell Area Arts Council.

A special thank you to Clarity Eye Care for hosting this mural.
Thank you to Monique Shore for her collaboration and support of this project.

Support for this project is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Iowa Arts Council, which exists within the Iowa Economic Development Authority, as well as by Grinnell College, the City of Grinnell, Friends of Drake Community Library, Drake Community Library and Grin Cupola.