Burbank in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

SR-71 Blackbird

1963

— Lockheed —

SR-71 Blackbird Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 23, 2025

1. SR-71 Blackbird Marker

Inscription.
Setting records nearly every time it flew, the Blackbird achieved a sustained speed above Mach 3 on July 20, 1963, at an astounding altitude of 78,000 feet. The Blackbird was and remains the world's fastest and highest-flying manned aircraft. On its retirement flight from Los Angeles to Washington in 1990, to its final resting place in the Smithsonian Air & Space collection, the plane flew coast to coast in 67 minutes.

Erected 2021 by Invesco; Overton Moore Properties; and artist Richard Deutsch.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1963.

Location. 34° 12.251′ N, 118° 21.054′ W. Marker is in Burbank, California, in Los Angeles County. It can be reached from Tulare Avenue west of Hollywood Way. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3010 N Kenwood St, Burbank CA 91505, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s The Valley — the San Fernando Valley,

in Greater Los Angeles,

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American

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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. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: U-2 (within shouting distance of this marker); F-117 Nighthawk (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); F-104 Starfighter (about 600 feet away); F-22 Raptor (about 600 feet away); P-80 Shooting Star (approx. 0.2 miles away); P-38 Lightning (approx. 0.3 miles away); Amelia Earhart (approx. one mile away); Bobbi Trout (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Burbank.

More about this marker. Located in an industrial park which used to be the location of Lockheed Skunk Works, where the SR-71 was designed.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. - Blackbird Airpark in Palmdale.

Additional commentary.
1. Sonic Boom
Early one morning in 1990, I heard a distant sonic boom and a faint roar high over Los

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 23, 2025

2. SR-71 Blackbird Marker

Angeles. I walked outside and looked up, but did not see anything. Later I learned it was the record-setting flight of the SR-71 being delivered to the Smithsonian Museum.

— Submitted May 15, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 23, 2025

3. SR-71 Blackbird Marker

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 23, 2025

4. SR-71 Blackbird Marker

Celebrating Skunk Work's Contribution to Aviation History.

Blackbird Airpark image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, January 20, 2018

5. Blackbird Airpark

This display is located in Palmdale, near today’s Lockheed Skunk Works.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2025. This page has been viewed 213 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 15, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on March 17, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.