Near Arvin in Kern County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Arvin-Sierra Glider Port
1937-1941
Photographed By Denise Boose, October 28, 2011
1. Arvin-Sierra Glider Port Marker
Located on the hills in front of you, on the historic Tejon Ranch, the Arvin-Sierra Glider Port was the site for the West Coast Soaring Championships. Many of America’s famous glider pilots made record flights from here, soaring over the mountains and into the desert. The contests were popular events to pilots and public alike and the site became the most important glider port in California. When World War II shut down activity here, those star pilots became key to the war effort — as pilots, scientists, engineers and builders of advanced aircraft, leaving an aerospace legacy that exists today.Erected 2000 by National Soaring Museum, Harris Hill, Elmira, NY, affiliate of the Soaring Society of America. Sponsored by the Sailplane Homebuilders Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Sports • War, World II.
Location. 35° 15.295′ N, 118° 40.436′ W. Marker is near Arvin, California, in Kern County. Marker can be reached from Highway 223,, 0.7
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Bakersfield National Cemetery (approx. 0.3 miles away); Bealville (approx. 2.9 miles away); Caliente (approx. 3.6 miles away); Cesar E. Chavez National Monument (approx. 6.8 miles away); Bear Valley Historic Schoolhouse (approx. 7 miles away); The Great Flood of 1932 and Engine No. 3834 (approx. 8.2 miles away); The Cross at the Loop (approx. 8.6 miles away); Tehachapi Pass Railroad Line (approx. 8.9 miles away).
Photographed By Denise Boose, October 28, 2011
2. Arvin-Sierra Glider Port Marker
Photographed By Denise Boose, October 28, 2011
3. Arvin-Sierra Glider Port Marker
Photographed By Denise Boose, February 2, 2015
4. Arvin-Sierra Glider Port Marker
A new location.
Photographed By Denise Boose, February 2, 2015
5. Arvin-Sierra Glider Port Marker
Moved to it's new location within the Bakersfield Veterans Cemetery.
Photographed By Denise Boose, February 2, 2015
6. Arvin-Sierra Glider Port Marker
Photographed By National Soaring Museum, April 1, 2000
7. Arvin-Sierra Glider Port
Three vintage sailplanes landed as part of the Landmark ceremony at the original Arvin site, private property of the Tejon Ranch.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 17, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 1,167 times since then and 36 times this year. Last updated on September 17, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 16, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 1, 2015, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 7. submitted on September 13, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
