Pasadena in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Tournament Park
Historical Site
Photographed By Craig Baker, January 7, 2021
1. Tournament Park Marker
Official terminus of the first transcontinental airplane flight. Calbraith (Cal) Perry Rodgers took off from Sheepshead Bay New York September 17, 1911, landing here November 5, 1911.
Earlier Flights
Roy Knabenshue piloted his dirigible from here March 20, 1909.
Charles Willard landed here in his airplane March 31, 1911.
Other Early Events
Balloon flights, horse races including chariot races, east-west football games, display of Tournament of Roses floats.
Erected 1962 by Pasadena Pioneer Association, and Pasadena Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Entertainment • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is March 20, 1909.
Location. 34° 7.967′ N, 118° 7.546′ W. Marker is in Pasadena, California, in Los Angeles County. Marker can be reached from Wilson Avenue, 0.2 miles south of California Boulevard, on the left when traveling south. Located in Tournament Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pasadena CA 91106, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Hale Solar Laboratory (approx. ¼ mile away); Karman Laboratory of Fluid Dynamics and Jet Propulsion (approx. ¼ mile away); The First Known Antiparticle
this page online
Regarding Tournament Park. The park is owned by the California Institute of Technology. Tournament Park gets its name from the Tournament of Roses because the early parade route ended at the park, and it served as a venue for events associated with the Tournament, such as ostrich races, and even a race between a camel and an elephant. Tournament Park was the site of the first eight Rose Bowl Games. The stadium site is now the South Athletic Field, and continues to serve as Caltech's track and field venue.
In 1910, publisher William Randolph Hearst offered a prize of $50,000 to the first aviator to fly coast to coast in less than 30 days. Cal Rodgers persuaded J. Ogden Armour, of Armour and Company, to sponsor the flight, and in return he named the plane, a Wright Model EX, after Armour's grape soft
Photographed By Craig Baker, January 7, 2021
2. Tournament Park Marker
courtesy Smithsonian Institute
3. Vin Fiz at the Air & Space Museum
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 8, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 250 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 8, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
