Scattered across the American landscape are large, strange concrete arrows. They stretch roughly 70 feet long, seemingly pointing at something—but to what? If you’ve ever come across one during a hike, you’re not alone in wondering what they are.
These arrows were once part of a groundbreaking navigational system that guided airmail pilots across the United States. Long before GPS or radar existed, these concrete arrows helped connect the country in the earliest days of air travel.
Let’s explore the origin, purpose, and legacy of these forgotten but fascinating landmarks.
How the Concrete Arrows Came to Be
In the early 20th century, the U.S. Postal Service launched an ambitious project: airmail delivery. The first experimental flight took place in 1911, but the real push began in 1918. By the 1920s, cross-country delivery by plane became a national priority.
At the time, pilots flew in open cockpits with limited instruments. Navigation was mostly visual, relying on roads, rivers, and railroad tracks. This worked during the day but made night flights nearly impossible. Mail delivery stalled after dark.
To solve this, the U.S. Congress funded the development of a national navigation system. That system would become the Transcontinental Airway System—the first of its kind in the world.
Why the Arrows Were Built
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The system aimed to speed up mail delivery by enabling safe flights at night. To do this, engineers created a series of concrete arrows and steel towers known as beacons.
Each arrow pointed toward the next beacon on the route. The arrows were painted bright yellow to be visible from the sky, even in poor conditions. Towers standing 50 feet tall were placed every 10 to 25 miles. These towers had rotating gas-powered lights, which pilots could see from 10 to 15 miles away.
The arrows and beacons acted as a physical GPS. Pilots could follow them coast-to-coast, relying on arrows by day and beacons by night.
By 1924, the first route stretched from Cheyenne, Wyoming to Chicago, Illinois. Within a year, the arrows extended to New York. Eventually, the system covered over 18,000 miles and included more than 1,500 beacon towers.
How the System Worked
Each beacon site included:
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A 70-foot-long concrete arrow pointing in the direction of the next tower.
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A steel tower equipped with a rotating light and, in some cases, flashing code identifiers.
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A small generator shed to power the beacon.
The entire system functioned in a relay. At night, a pilot would spot the blinking light of the next tower and fly toward it. During the day, pilots followed the arrows. Even in isolated terrain, these navigation aids made long-distance flights more reliable.
This method reduced coast-to-coast mail delivery times from several days to just under 30 hours. Before this, mail often had to be moved by train overnight, slowing delivery significantly.
Why It Mattered
At the time, this was cutting-edge technology. The U.S. led the world in building a nationwide aerial navigation system. Europe, still recovering from World War I, had nothing like it. The Transcontinental Airway System showed what coordinated infrastructure could do.
Pilots benefited the most. Many early airmail flights were dangerous. Planes were small, prone to failure, and lacked proper weather forecasting. Crashes were common. The arrows and beacons offered much-needed guidance and helped reduce accidents.
This project also laid the groundwork for the growth of commercial aviation. Airlines that started as mail carriers, such as United Airlines, owe part of their history to this system.
Decline of the Arrow System
By the early 1930s, new technology began to replace visual navigation. Radio navigation emerged, allowing pilots to follow signals instead of landmarks. Ground-based radio beacons (called “range stations”) offered more precise and weather-proof guidance.
In 1933, construction of the beacon-and-arrow system stopped. The last known arrow was built in 1931. Over the next two decades, the towers were dismantled or repurposed. The metal was often recycled for use during World War II.
However, the concrete arrows remained. They were too heavy and remote to remove. Slowly, they faded into obscurity.
Where to Find the Arrows Today
Although the beacons are mostly gone, hundreds of concrete arrows still exist across the United States. Many are cracked, weathered, or overgrown, but they remain in place—hidden pieces of aviation history.
Here are a few known locations where you can still spot them:
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Bloomington, Utah
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Golconda, Nevada
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Medicine Bow, Wyoming
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Cottage Grove, Oregon
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Thayer Junction, Wyoming
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Poverty Point, Utah
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New Mexico (various sites)
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Mote and Pumpernickel, Nevada
Some arrows have been documented and mapped by aviation history enthusiasts. A group of hobbyists has even taken on the task of finding and cataloging each surviving marker.
Rediscovery and Modern Interest
In recent years, the arrows have gained attention from hikers, geocachers, history buffs, and drone users. Social media has helped spread the word, with users posting photos and coordinates of arrows they’ve discovered.
Some groups have formed to preserve or mark these historic structures. In Nevada, for example, local volunteers restored several arrows with fresh paint and historical signage.
The arrows represent a time when technology met practical need in an innovative way. They also remind us of the challenges faced by early pilots and the rapid pace of progress in transportation.
Fun Facts About the Arrows
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They were built fast. Most arrows and beacons were constructed in the span of just a few years (1923–1931).
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They were standardized. Arrows had a typical design—straight, wide, and about 70 feet long.
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Beacons blinked in Morse code. Some lights flashed letters corresponding to their position on the route.
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Not just for airmail. Some routes were later used by passenger airlines.
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High visibility. Arrows were often painted with reflective materials or bright yellow paint to improve daytime visibility.
Lessons from the Arrow Era
The concrete arrows may seem simple now, but they were once at the forefront of aviation safety. Their story shows how problem-solving, federal support, and innovation can lead to practical solutions. They helped turn risky mail flights into a dependable service, building trust in the young field of aviation.
They also symbolize the transition from analog to digital—an early form of navigation that, although outdated, paved the way for modern systems like GPS, satellite tracking, and air traffic control.
Final Thoughts
Next time you’re out in the desert or flying over open land, keep an eye out—you might spot one of these forgotten concrete arrows. They’re more than just strange shapes in the ground. They’re part of a nationwide network that once guided pilots safely across thousands of miles.
Though their purpose has long passed, they continue to point to a time when innovation meant laying concrete in the dirt—arrow by arrow, coast to coast.