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 year for this entry is 1911.
Location. 34° 7.967′ N, 118° 7.546′ W. Marker is in Pasadena, California, in Los Angeles County. It can be reached from Wilson Avenue 0.2 miles south of California Boulevard, on the left when traveling south. Located in Tournament Park - Usually open to the public from 8 AM to 6 PM. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pasadena CA 91106, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles and in the Transverse Ranges. 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 Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Hale Solar Laboratory (approx. Ό mile away); Karman Laboratory of Fluid Dynamics and Jet Propulsion
this page online
Regarding Tournament Park. 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 his plane, a Wright Model EX, after Armour's grape soft drink Vin Fiz. The flight required 70 stops and endured countless crashes and aircraft malfunctions. Tournament Park was the official terminus of the flight, but Rodgers did not win the prize because the trip took more than one month. Vin Fiz is on display in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.
Today the park is owned by the California Institute of Technology. Tournament Park gets its name from the Tournament of Roses because
Photographed by Craig Baker, January 7, 2021
2. Tournament Park Marker
Also see . . .
1. Tournament Park. CalTech website includes hours, parking, and history of the park, with links for additional information. (Submitted on September 25, 2025.)
2. Perilous Voyage. The Huntington has 25 photos from the 1904 balloon flight. (Submitted on January 27, 2026.)
Additional keywords. Cal Rodgers, Vin Fiz, Rose Bowl, Cal Tech, Perilous Voyage
courtesy Smithsonian Institute
3. Vin Fiz at the Air & Space Museum
Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 8, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 851 times since then and 61 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.
