Westchester in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
The Trans-Polar Air Route
Photographed By Craig Baker, September 24, 2019
1. First Trans-Polar Air Route Marker
Presented to the City of Los Angeles in commemoration of the inauguration of the Trans-Polar Air Route directly connecting the city of Los Angeles with the European continent by Scandinavian Airlines System, November 15, 1954.
Erected by Scandinavian Airlines. (Marker Number 44.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is November 15, 1954.
Location. 33° 55.921′ N, 118° 24.348′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Westchester. Marker is at the intersection of Imperial Highway and California Street, on the right when traveling west on Imperial Highway. Near the parking lot of Flight Path Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6661 Imperial Highway, Los Angeles CA 90045, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Los Angeles International Airport (approx. 0.9 miles away); Hangar #1 (approx. 1.2 miles away); Capt. Lou Lenart, USMC (Ret.) (approx. 1.6 miles away); Tuskegee Airmen (approx. 1.6 miles away); The American Volunteer Group (approx. 1.6 miles away); Eagle Squadrons (approx. 1.6 miles away); Dockweiler Hang Gliding Center
this page online
Regarding The Trans-Polar Air Route. The term "polar route" was originally applied to great circle routes between Europe and the west coast of North America in the 1950s. A great-circle distance is the shortest distance between two points on the surface of a globe. SAS was the first commercial airline to fly the polar route. Their Douglas DC-6B flights between Los Angeles and Copenhagen, via Sondre Stromfjord Greenland and Winnipeg Canada, started on November 15, 1954.
Also see . . . How SAS Pioneered Flying Over The North Pole. Simple Flying website entry (Submitted on February 1, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By Craig Baker, September 24, 2019
2. First Trans-Polar Air Route Marker
Freeware via FlyAwaySimulations.com
3. Scandinavian Airlines System Douglas DC-6B
“The DC-6B’s of SAS became famous for opening the first ‘polar’ (great circle) route from Europe to the USA, flying from Copenhagen to Los Angeles via Greenland and Canada. SAS used 14 DC-6B's in 1952-64.”
Photographed By Craig Baker, September 24, 2019
4. Flight Path Museum
Photographed By Craig Baker, September 24, 2019
5. Hangar One
The original building at LAX, built in 1929. Located 1˝ miles east of Flight Path Museum.
Photographed By Craig Baker, September 24, 2019
6. Hangar One
This side can be seen from the street at 5701 N Douglas St. Now used for cargo, not open to the public.
Photographed By Craig Baker, September 24, 2019
7. Marker, Inside the Hangar
Hangar #1. Mission revival style. A symbol of the early aviation industry in Southern California. Built in 1929. Gable and Wyant, architects. City Historic Monument No. 44.
Photographed By Craig Baker, February 6, 2022
8. Marker on the Theme Building
Theme Building, 1961. Joint venture architects Charles Luckman, William Pereira, Welton Becket, and Paul R. Williams. Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 570.
Photographed By Craig Baker, February 6, 2022
9. Theme Building
Built in 1961. Located 1˝ miles north of Flight Path Museum. Not open to the public.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 1,326 times since then and 120 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week November 15, 2020. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 28, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 3. submitted on November 14, 2020, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on September 28, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 8, 9. submitted on August 26, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
