Elko in Elko County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Elko Airport

Terminus of the First Commercial Air Mail Route

Photographed By Dawn Bowen, June 16, 2007

1. Elko Airport Marker

Inscription. On April 6, 1926, Varney Air Lines pilot Leon Cuddeback, carrying one bag of mail, landed his tiny Curtis Swallow bi-plane at Elko, Nevada, completing the first scheduled air mail run in the United States.

The single engine, 90-horsepower aircraft had taken off from Pasco, Washington, stopped at Boise, Idaho, for fuel and mail, then completed the 460-mile flight to Elko. The Varney contract was awarded October 27, 1925, at a rate of eights cents an ounce. Varney sold to Boeing, which merged with United Air Lines in 1931.

Erected 1970 by State of Nevada. (Marker Number 107.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Communications. In addition, it is included in the Postal Mail and Philately series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1872.

Location. 40° 49.63′ N, 115° 46.888′ W. Marker is in Elko, Nevada, in Elko County. Marker is on Murray Way. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 812 Murray Way, Elko NV 89801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Oil From Shale (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Star Hotel (approx. one mile away); Elko Independent (approx. one mile

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away); Pioneer Saloon and Hotel (approx. 1.1 miles away); Elko County High School (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elko.

Marker and Municipal Airport Office image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Dawn Bowen, June 16, 2007

2. Marker and Municipal Airport Office

Credits. This page was last revised on January 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,690 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 27, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.