The Arrow on Tussey Mountain

     There is a huge concrete arrow onto of Tussey Mountain east of Williamsburg, Pennsylvania. The arrow was brought up in converstation many years ago with some friends, and this past spring I decided to go on a hike and look for it. From what i could recall, the arrow was about a half mile along a blazed trail bordering state game land. Once I arrived to the top of Tussey Mountain on Mountain Road, I pulled off and began my walk north along the ridge-line. The Hike was very rocky and leaves covered gaps between the rocks. I continued to follow the ridge on state game lands following the white blazes about 1/3 of a mile from the pull off spot. Eventually I stumbled into a clearing with a huge concrete arrow pointing east-ward. The arrow look to have been made in 3 sections and span about 20 yards. I was dumbfounded on how anyone could have built and pored this arrow without any access from the main road. I took a few pictures than made my way back to car.

     Once home, I investigated further into what this arrow was doing on top of a fairly remote mountain top. With a few hours of searching, I came across information that sounded just like what I found onto of Tussey Mountain. Before GPS and modern navigation methods, huge markers were placed on the ground for the Transcontinental Air Mail service. These markers provided a route for planes to follow during the day and even at night. During the night many markers had control sheds and towers with lights to help guide the planes. In 1920, the first United States coast-to-coast Air route was developed and by 1929 beacons and markers spotted the ground about every 10 miles. Only a few beacon houses and towers still exist. Many were dismantled during war times for their steel and when they became obsolete to modern navigation. More of the concrete arrows still survive but are slowly being taken over by mother nature.

     The arrow on Tussey Mountain was once part of Los Angeles to New York Airway on the Ebensburg to Philadelphia branch. To reach the arrow, Take Mountain Road east from Williamsburg, PA. From the opposite side, take Route 26 aka Raystown Road South of Huntingdon and just north of Marklesburg to reach Mountain Road.