Arrowhead Trail
Arrowhead Trail Overview
Arrowhead Trail 1914 – 1924: This trail was promoted as an all-weather route between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. Local communities along the route promoted its construction and the tourism possibilities of Southern Nevada, including Valley of Fire.
Arrowhead Trail – Henderson: Prior to 1850, New Mexican trading caravans en route to Los Angeles used this segment of the Old Spanish Trail. Later it became part of the Arrowhead Trail, an early automobile road (1916-1924) connecting Salt Lake City and Los Angeles.
Category
Arrowhead Trail 1914 – 1924: Trail/road
Arrowhead Trail – Henderson: Old Spanish Trail and Trail/Road
Marker Type
Arrowhead Trail 1914 – 1924: Blue marker
Arrowhead Trail – Henderson: Concrete marker
Nevada Historical Marker Number
Arrowhead Trail 1914 – 1924: Nevada Historical Marker #168.
Arrowhead Trail – Henderson: Nevada Historical Marker #197.
Click here to view the full list of Nevada State Historical Markers.
County
GPS Coordinates
Arrowhead Trail 1914 – 1924: 36.426315, -114.463134
Arrowhead Trail – Henderson: 35.997119, -114.961784
Nevada Historical Marker Transcription
Arrowhead Trail 1914 – 1924:
Las Vegas promoters claimed to be the originators of this all-weather route between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. From the beginning, the Arrowhead Trail was a “grass roots” effort, including promotion by various chambers of commerce and volunteer construction by local citizens. However, it was Charles H. Bigelow, from Los Angeles, who gave the trail publicity. Between 1915 & 1916, he drove the entire route many times in the twin-six Packard he named “Cactus Kate.”
The trail, which extends near here, was built in 1915 and completed the section between St. Thomas and Las Vegas. In its day it denoted a milestone of progress.
STATE HISTORICAL MARKER No. 168
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
ELBERT B. EDWARDS
Arrowhead Trail – Henderson:
The name, “Arrowhead Trail” likely originated from the former San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad, which had an arrowhead for a logo. Prior to 1850, New Mexican trading caravans from Santa Fe en route to Los Angeles used this segment of the Old Spanish Trail.
Heading south along this trail toward Bishop Mountain, travelers turned through El Dorado pass, and continued to Nelson, Searchlight, Nipton, Wheaton Springs, and on to San Bernardino.
This section of the trail was popular as an early automobile road (1916-1924) connecting Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. Local communities along the route promoted its construction and the tourism possibilities of Southern Nevada, including the nearby Valley of Fire, Nevada’s first state park.
STATE HISTORICAL MARKER No. 197
NEVADA STATE PARK SYSTEM
BEN G. SWEET, JR.
References Used
- State Historic Preservation Office – Arrowhead Trail 1914 – 1924
- State Historic Preservation Office – Arrowhead Trail – Henderson