Charles Lindbergh became a national hero when he landed his airplane on May 21, 1927, after becoming the first person to fly solo and non-stop from New York to Paris. His Minnesota background and boyhood helped prepare him for that role. His paternal grandfather, Ola Mansson, had been a member of the Swedish National Parliament and a close friend of King Charles XV before emigrating to the U.S. in 1859, changing his name to August Lindbergh, farming near Melrose in Central Minnesota, and remaining active in civic affairs. His son, Charles August (C.A.), likewise bought a farm, served in Congress, and ran for governor of Minnesota and the U.S. Senate. In 1902, Charles was born to C.A. and Elizabeth Ledge Land Lindbergh. While C.A. represented Minnesota in Congress from 1907 to 1917, the family spent winters in Washington and summers on the farm near Little Falls. After his Atlantic flight, Charles flew The Spirit of St. Louis to all 48 states. During a goodwill flight to Mexico he met Anne Morrow, and after their 1929 marriage they flew together to South America, Europe, Africa, and the Orient while exploring possible commercial air routes; both also became famous authors. Like his father, Charles opposed U.S. entry into the European wars, but after World War II was declared he supported the war effort in many ways, including flying several combat missions as a civilian in the South Pacific. Later he contributed to the development of commercial aviation through his work with Pan American Airways, and before his death in 1974 he devoted much of his time to environmental protection. The family gave the farm at Little Falls to the State of Minnesota as a memorial to C.A.; it is now a state park, and the farmhouse where Charles spent his formative boyhood years has been restored and opened to the public by the Minnesota Historical Society.