These are peculiar concrete markings that have amazingly been spotted all across America, prompting hikers and travelers to be curious about what on Earth they could mean and where they are pointing to. However; there are mysteries of giant arrows, which can measure up to 70ft in length, and are actually a forgotten remnant of a bygone age. Dotted between scrubland, placed in apparently random spots, these giant arrows were once markers for early airmail flights across the US – forming the first land-based navigation system in the world.
The strong concrete arrows were placed at the base of lit beacons nearby airways, showing pilots the direction they needed to fly in to reach the next stop-off to deliver mail. Well, Airmail in the United States started as early as 1911, with the first official flight departing Petaluma, California, and arriving in Santa Rosa, California. As the flights got longer, with more frequent stop-offs, the beacons, and arrows were placed to help pilots on their way. After World War I, the United States Postal Service started to use surplus warplanes for mail delivery and several were flown by former army pilots.
The huge arrows started to be placed across the country, from time to time at 10-mile intervals, in 1924. Moreover, painted bright yellow and placed alongside a beacon with a gaslight at the top, the concept was that the markers could be seen for a distance of up to 10 miles so pilots could find their way. In the summer of 1924, they stretched from Wyoming to Ohio and by the following year, the arrows had reached New York. By 1929, the arrows could direct flights all the way across the width of America.
The main New York to San Francisco air route stretched from New York to San Francisco, following the yellow concrete trail. In the days before radio and satellite communications, the arrows were a way to ensure pilots could find their way, even in poor weather. Though the arrows are now long-forgotten, with numerous lost forever, there’re fans who, having stumbled upon an arrow or two in the countryside, have in progress mapping those concrete markers that have been left behind. Retired couple Brian and Charlotte Smith have referred to an email that piqued their curiosity and have been pursuing down the arrows ever since.
The email playfully explained: “Every so often”, regularly in the vast deserts of the American Southwest, a hiker or a backpacker will run across a somewhat puzzling, big concrete arrow, as much as 70 feet in length, sitting in the middle of scrub-covered nowhere. The couple says they have found 102 arrows so far and have set up their website Arrows Across America as part of their photography site dreamsmithphotos.com so fellow fans can share their own pictures and help map where the remaining arrows are.
The Smiths told MailOnline Travel: We’ve located 102 arrows or portions of arrows, some even badly deteriorate and not much is left. Our interest grew out of an email circulating in August 2013; we craved to know where they were and set out to find them. We’ve managed to take photographs of about 40, and have a trip planned this fall to take more photographs of some that we were unable to get to last spring.
Sooner or later we hope to have photographs of all the arrows that we have positioned, but time and money will directive how long that will take us. Before our research we knew nothing about airways, beacons, or concrete arrows, it has been a marvelous journey of discovery and we cannot believe that all of this has been “forgotten”.
Source: Dailymail

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A huge concrete arrow is found in perfect condition in Bloomington, Washington County, Utah
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Arrowheads and ancient earth mounds have been discovered at Poverty Point, in Utah, but it also has a more recent concrete arrow
Arrowheads and ancient earth mounds have been discovered at Poverty Point, in Utah, but it also has a more recent concrete arrow
At Thayer Juntion, in Wyoming, there are boards that supply information about the arrows and their use to passers-by
At Thayer Juntion, in Wyoming, there are boards that supply information about the arrows and their use to passers-by
Captured near the tiny town of Medicine Bow in Wyoming, this beacon was on the famous New York to San Francisco route
Captured near the tiny town of Medicine Bow in Wyoming, this beacon was on the famous New York to San Francisco route
Medicine Bow town in Carbon County has a population of just 284 and was originally established due to the construction of a transcontinental railroad
Medicine Bow town in Carbon County has a population of just 284 and was originally established due to the construction of a transcontinental railroad
Not all the arrows are in good condition, with each passing winter more cracks appear in the concrete, such as with this arrow in Mote, Nevada
Not all the arrows are in good condition, with each passing winter more cracks appear in the concrete, such as with this arrow in Mote, Nevada
One of the most important flight routes and the first to be completed, stretched across the US from New York to San Francisco
One of the most important flight routes and the first to be completed stretched across the US from New York to San Francisco
Perfectly set against the snow-capped mountains of Nevada, this arrow was photographed in Golconda, Humboldt County
Perfectly set against the snow-capped mountains of Nevada, this arrow was photographed in Golconda, Humboldt County
Pumpernickle n Nevada has its own concrete arrow too, which one again is overlooked by the state's beautiful mountains
Pumpernickle n Nevada has its own concrete arrow too, which one again is overlooked by the state’s beautiful mountains
The giant arrows define a moment in history at the beginning of the 21st century when the US Postal service began delivering air mail
The giant arrows define a moment in history at the beginning of the 21st century when the US Postal service began delivering airmail.
The Bloomnigton arrow was one of 102 found by retired couple Brian and Charlotte Smith, who have travelled across the US to photograph the monuments
The Bloomington arrow was one of 102 found by retired couple Brian and Charlotte Smith, who have traveled across the US to photograph the monuments

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