Did Wilhelmine Reichard ever imagine a memorial stone dedicated to her daring feats? Here at the Wilhelmine Reichard Stone in Dresden, we celebrate the life of Germany’s first female balloonist. The inscription on the stone clearly marks her birth and death: April 2, 1788 – February 23, 1848. Wilhelmine’s story is one of courage, ambition, and a touch of recklessness.
Wilhelmine, born Wilhelmine Schmidt, married Johann Gottfried Reichard, a chemist and physicist. He ignited her passion for ballooning. In 1811, right here in Germany, Wilhelmine made her first solo flight. Imagine the thrill as she soared above Berlin, reaching a height of over 5,000 meters. This act made her the first German woman to pilot a balloon solo. She landed safely in Genshagen, after a journey of about 33.5 kilometers.
Wilhelmine’s third flight, however, nearly ended in tragedy. She ascended to approximately 7,800 meters. At that altitude, she lost consciousness. The balloon crashed in a forest. Badly injured, she was rescued by local farmers. Undeterred, Wilhelmine continued ballooning to fund her husband’s dream. Johann Gottfried Reichard wanted to purchase a chemical factory in Döhlen. Wilhelmine’s flights, after her accident, became a spectacle. She flew in various cities, including Prague, Vienna, and even at the Oktoberfest in Munich in 1820. This marked her final flight.
The Wilhelmine Reichard Stone stands as a testament to her extraordinary life. She was a wife, a mother of eight, a businesswoman, and a pioneer in aviation. Her spirit soared above the clouds, and her legacy continues to inspire us here, at this memorial.