Information
Landmark: Pearson FieldCity: Vancouver City
Country: USA Washington
Continent: North America
Pearson Field, Vancouver City, USA Washington, North America
Overview
In Vancouver, Washington, Pearson Field has been buzzing with aircraft for generations, making it one of the oldest airfields still in use and a proud landmark in both American and Pacific Northwest aviation history, alternatively founded in 1905, it stood long before most famous airports and has served military, commercial, and general aviation for over a hundred years, with the hum of engines echoing across its runways.As it happens, Pearson Field’s story took off in 1905, when Lincoln Beachey steered the Baldwin airship Gelatine over the Columbia River and set it down on the grassy polo field at Vancouver Barracks, likewise it was one of the first times a plane soared over the Columbia River, a moment that underscored the region’s bold step into aviation’s early days, to some extent In 1911, the first airplane touched down at Pearson Field; a year later, a homebuilt Curtiss-style biplane lifted off into the crisp morning air, cementing the field’s region as the birthplace of powered flight in the Pacific Northwest, also these milestones turned the airfield into a vital springboard for recent aviation technology and training in the region, where the hum of engines often hung in the air.Actually, During World War I, Pearson Field took on real strategic weight for the U, in addition s.Oddly enough, military, with its grassy strip often humming under the wings of training aircraft, along with the U. S, furthermore army built a massive spruce mill here, turning out aviation-grade lumber that smelled sharp and resinous.Early military aircraft relied on spruce wood for its exceptional strength without the heavy bulk, a quality as crisp and light as a freshly cut plank, to boot the mill turned out timber for building aircraft, a vital boost to the war effort, and its sawdust still clung to the air-proof the site served far more than flight operations.From the years between the wars right through World War II, Pearson Field buzzed with the hum of Army Air Service planes, and later, the Air Corps called it home, meanwhile the facility played a crucial role in training and operations, keeping the military ready and pushing aviation forward-jet engines once roared through its hangars.Pearson Field played a role in several historic flights, from the 1924 round‑the‑world expedition to Valery Chkalov’s daring nonstop trip in 1937, when the Soviet pilot crossed the Arctic from Moscow and touched down on its grassy runway, moreover in 1925, the airfield took the name Pearson Field, honoring Lieutenant Alexander Pearson Jr, a hometown aviator and Army pilot who broke multiple flight records before losing his life in a racing crash.His legacy still defines the airfield, carrying the bold spirit of aviation-innovation and courage-like the hum of an aged propeller cutting through the morning haze, along with right next to the airfield, the Pearson Air Museum keeps the story of Pearson Field and regional aviation alive, offering visitors a vivid glimpse into its past-from early wooden propellers to soaring warplanes.Inside the museum, sleek early aircraft hang overhead, surrounded by aviation artifacts, faded photographs, and exhibits that bring to life the daring pioneers, the military’s role, and the leaps in technology, in turn at the museum, visitors step into the story of flight, moving through immersive displays and vivid accounts that link Pearson Field’s hometown milestones to the sweeping arc of aviation history across the nation and the world.The museum regularly puts on events, from lively lectures to rare exhibitions, turning it into a buzzing meeting destination for aviation buffs and history lovers alike, at the same time today, Pearson Field serves as a busy hub for general aviation, welcoming private pilots, compact aircraft, and a handful of aviation businesses-its runways echo with the hum of propellers.Though it serves a modern purpose, it still carries the warmth of its history, honoring that legacy through careful restoration and lively neighborhood gatherings, besides the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has named the airfield a Historic Aerospace Site, a national honor that underscores its role in shaping the country’s aerospace history.It’s still a key piece of the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, tying the hum of early propellers to the larger story of how the Pacific Northwest grew, and pearson Field sits at 1115 East 5th Street in Vancouver, Washington, just minutes from downtown and a short meander from Fort Vancouver.You can visit the Pearson Air Museum Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m, likewise to 4 p.m, and meander in free of charge.Not surprisingly, The site welcomes wheelchair users, with smooth ramps at the entrance, and offers parking plus visitor amenities to make the visit comfortable, moreover pearson Field is a proud landmark of early flight, its grassy runways echoing with the history of military aviation in the Pacific Northwest.Running without pause since 1905, it stands as a lasting landmark, and the nearby Pearson Air Museum brings aviation’s local story to life with gleaming propellers and weathered flight logs, furthermore with its rich history, role in military operations, and the steady hum of modest planes still lifting off today, the field draws anyone fascinated by aviation’s past and where it’s headed.
Author: Tourist Landmarks
Date: 2025-10-05
