Alameda in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Pan Am China Clipper

Photographed by Craig Baker, 2017

1. Pan Am China Clipper Marker

Inscription. Pan American World Airways fabled China Clipper (Martin M/130 Flying Boat) left Alameda Marina on November 22, 1935. Under the command of Captain Edwin G. Musick. The flight would reach Manila via Honolulu, Midway, Wake, and Guam. The inauguration of ocean airmail service and commercial airflight across the Pacific was a significant event for both California and the world.

Erected 1985 by State Department of Parks and Recreation in Cooperation with Pan American Airlines and Alameda Naval Air Station. (Marker Number 968.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1820.

Location. 37° 47.205′ N, 122° 18.164′ W. Marker is in Alameda, California, in Alameda County. It is on West Mall Square. Marker is located between Lexington and Saratoga Streets at the entrance to the Naval Air Station Mall. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Alameda CA 94501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker

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is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area

and on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Alameda Terminal of the First Transcontinental Railroad (a few steps from this marker); Grumman F6F Hellcat (approx. half a mile away); Vought A-7A Corvair II (approx. half a mile away); Grumman J2F Duck (approx. half a mile away); Douglas SBD Dauntless (approx. half a mile away); Aircraft Carriers and Seaplane Tenders (approx. 0.7 miles away); Seaplanes and Flying Boats at NAS Alameda (approx. 0.7 miles away); Seaplane Lagoon (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alameda.

Regarding Pan Am China Clipper. This site was designated California Historical Landmark No. 968 on November 5, 1985.

Also see . . .
1. The Flying Clippers. In 1492,
Photographed by Syd Whittle, March 14, 2010

2. Pan Am China Clipper Marker
and Naval Air Station Time Capsule
Columbus set sail in search of a western route to the Orient. Instead, he found a new world. Magellan's expedition found a way around this "obstacle" when it sailed around what is now Cape Horn and eventually back into known seas. Four hundred years later the Panama Canal shortened the route to China by 8,000 miles. In 1937, Juan Trippe, President of Pan American Airways, reduced the journey from over three weeks to six days, seven hours, and twenty minutes. (Submitted on March 15, 2010.)

2. The Martin 130 – China Clipper. (Submitted on March 15, 2010.)
3. Edwin Musick. A Biography of Captain Edwin Musick. (Submitted on March 15, 2010.)

Entrance to the Naval Air Station Mall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, March 14, 2010

3. Entrance to the Naval Air Station Mall

The Pan Am China Clipper marker is located on the right. The nearby 1st Transcontinental Railroad marker is located on the left.

Time Capsule image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, March 14, 2010

4. Time Capsule

Commemorating the Closure of Naval Air Station, Alameda (1940 - 1997). Time Capsule contained here-in can be opened in the year 2020. April 19, 1997. Sponsored by the Alameda Journal

China Clipper Mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Henry M Kohnen, April 21, 2014

5. China Clipper Mural

Mural on the side of the old Pan Am Clipper Hanger, painted in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the China Clipper Service which departed from this site.

Pan Am China Clipper image. Click for full size.

University of Miami Library Collections, November 22, 1935

6. Pan Am China Clipper

Pan Am Clipper Display at the Alameda Naval Air Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, March 14, 2010

7. Pan Am Clipper Display at the Alameda Naval Air Museum

The Museum is located at 2151 Ferry Point, Alameda.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2010, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 4,750 times since then and 91 times this year. Last updated on December 20, 2016, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. Photos: 1. submitted on June 3, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 15, 2010, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 5. submitted on October 14, 2014, by Henry M Kohnen of San Jose, California. 6. submitted on December 12, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 7. submitted on March 15, 2010, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.