Downtown in Santa Monica in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

World’s First Flying Automobile

Photographed by J. J. Prats, November 30, 2018

1. World’s First Flying Automobile Marker, main panel

This panel faces Colorado Avenue.

Inscription. From 1935-1938 at this location pioneer aviator and inventor Waldo Waterman created the most successful of his “roadable aircraft,” the Arrowbile, which had the capability to fly in the sky and drive on the street.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Roads & Vehicles.

Location. 34° 0.84′ N, 118° 29.481′ W. Marker is in Santa Monica, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of Colorado Avenue and 5th Street, on the right when traveling west on Colorado Avenue. It is across from the Santa Monica Expo Line Metro Station at the entrance to the Courtyard by Marriott hotel. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 425 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica CA 90401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Transverse 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.

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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: City Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); Rapp’s Saloon (approx. 0.3 miles away); Colorado Avenue Viaduct (approx. 0.3 miles away); Welcome to Historic Belmar Park (approx. 0.3 miles away); “No, No, No Jim Crow” (approx. 0.3 miles away); Not on My Beach (approx. 0.3 miles away); Black Women Empowered (approx. 0.3 miles away); Environmental Justice (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Monica.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. — Van Nuys Airport, includes two photos of airport manager Waldo Waterman.

Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia Entry for Waterman Arrowbile. “The wheel in the two-seat cabin controlled the Arrowbile both on the road and in the air. Outer wing elevons moved together to alter pitch and deferentially to bank. The rudders, interconnected with the elevons when the wheel was turned, moved only outwards, so in a turn only the inner rudder was used,

World’s First Flying Automobile Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, November 30, 2018

2. World’s First Flying Automobile Marker

Two-panel marker is on the gray post at the corner of the building.

both adjusting yaw as normal and assisting the elevon in depressing the inner wing tip.” (Submitted on March 11, 2019.)

2. Wikipedia entry for Waldo Waterman. “Waterman built his first aircraft, a biplane hang glider, in 1909 while still in high school. He successfully flew the biplane hang glider on a slope near his home and by auto-tow. He then took on a partner to help build a powered aircraft that he entered in the first Dominguez Air Meet in January 1910. The aircraft was not completed in time for the meet. However, he began testing the aircraft on North Island. It was under-powered and required an auto-tow assist to get airborne. He flew the aircraft with some success but crashed, breaking both ankles.” (Submitted on March 11, 2019.)

Courtyard by Marriott Hotel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, November 30, 2018

3. Courtyard by Marriott Hotel

Marker is on the gray post on the corner. The Santa Monica light-rail Metro station is on the left.

Second Panel, Facing 5th Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 11, 2019

4. Second Panel, Facing 5th Street

The Arrowbile’s most notable flight was in 1937 from Santa Monica to the National Air Races in Cleveland.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 508 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 11, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4. submitted on June 12, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.