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

Inscription. 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. It can be reached from Highway 223 ¾ mile south of Highway 58. The marker was relocated inside the Bakersfield Veterans Cemetery. It is on the west side of the cemetery across from the military pillars. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 30338 E Bear Mountain Blvd, Arvin CA 93203, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley,

specifically in the Central Valley,

and in the Sierra Nevada.

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.

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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); A Humble Home (approx. 6.8 miles away); Helen's Park (approx. 6.8 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).

Photographed by Denise Boose, February 2, 2015

2. Arvin-Sierra Glider Port Marker

Photographed by Denise Boose, February 2, 2015

3. Arvin-Sierra Glider Port Marker

Within the Bakersfield Veterans Cemetery.

Photographed by Denise Boose, February 2, 2015

4. Arvin-Sierra Glider Port Marker

Arvin-Sierra Glider Port Marker - 2011 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, October 28, 2011

5. Arvin-Sierra Glider Port Marker - 2011

At its original location, near highway 58.

Photographed by Denise Boose, October 28, 2011

6. Arvin-Sierra Glider Port Marker - 2011

The original location, near highway 58.

Arvin-Sierra Glider Port image. Click for full size.

courtesy National Soaring Museum, April 1, 2000

7. Arvin-Sierra Glider Port

Three vintage sailplanes landed as part of the marker dedication ceremony at the original Arvin site, private property of the Tejon Ranch.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 19, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 1,853 times since then and 50 times this year. Last updated on September 17, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1. submitted on January 16, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 1, 2015, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 5, 6. submitted on January 16, 2012, 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.