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Elko Airport (Terminus of the First Commercial Air Mail Route)

Elko Airport

Elko Airport Overview

In 1926, Varney Air Line’s pilot, Leon Cuddeback carried one bag of mail and landed his tiny Curtiss Swallow biplane at Elko, Nevada, completing the first scheduled Air Mail run in the United
States.

Varney Air Line was sold to Boeing, which merged with United Airlines in 1931.

Category

  • Event
  • Person

Marker Type

Small blue marker

Nevada Historical Marker Number

Elko Airport is Nevada Historical Marker #107.

Click here to view the full list of Nevada State Historical Markers.

County

Elko County, Nevada

GPS Coordinates

40.828743, -115.780109

Nevada Historical Marker Transcription

On April 6, 1926, Varney Air Lines pilot Leon Cuddeback carried one bag of mail and landed his tiny Curtiss Swallow biplane at Elko, Nevada, completing the first scheduled Air Mail run in the United States.

The single-engine 90 horsepower aircraft had taken off from Pasco, Washington, stopped in Boise, Idaho for fuel and mail, and then completed the 460-mile flight to Elko.  The Varney contract was awarded October 27, 1925, at a rate of B cents an ounce.  Varney sold to Boeing, which merged with United Airlines in 1931.

STATE HISTORICAL MARKER NO.  107

STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE

NORTHEASTERN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

References Used

Elko Airport