The History of Chapman Field
The history of Chapman Field goes back to World War I, when it was originally pieced together for use as an army aerial gunnery field. Just days after the war's end the airbase was renamed in honor of Victor Chapman, the first U.S. airman to die in that war, in June of 1916. In 1923 David Fairchild persuaded the USDA to acquire some of the land for use as a plant introduction garden; he had initially set up a 6-acre station on Brickell Avenue in downtown Miami but realized he needed much more space. A portion of Chapman Field is still used by the USDA; another portion has become a county park, and a piece has been developed for condominiums.