08/20/2026
✈️ Did you know Root Candles has a connection to the birth of aviation?
In 1904, our founder, Amos Ives Root, took a personal interest in the groundbreaking work of Orville and Wilbur Wright. He traveled to Huffman Prairie near Dayton, Ohio, where he witnessed the Wright brothers fly firsthand.
After his account of their achievement received no acknowledgment from a leading scientific magazine, A.I. Root did what he did best he took matters into his own hands. He published the story in his own magazine, Gleanings in Bee Culture, creating the first published eyewitness account of the Wright brothers’ historic flights.
From beekeeping and candle making to documenting a defining moment in aviation history, A.I. Root’s curiosity and entrepreneurial spirit are an incredible part of the Root legacy. 🐝🕯️✈️
Want to learn more? Read A.I. Root’s first report on the Wright brothers and the story behind it on PBS.org.