1920's Mail Arrow sits atop Hill Top in Walnut Creek, California

Jeff checks out the giant concrete arrow sitting at the peak of the Acalanes Ridge in Walnut Creek, California, which once guided pilots carrying U.S. mail aboard their vintage bi-planes.
Thousands of similar arrows exist across the country still, a throwback to the days when navigating was primitive.
#mailarrows #historyhunters
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[@DALEf4u]

I’m retired but worked for the postal service for 31 years. I never knew about these arrows and will post this to my Facebook wall to share with some of my old coworkers.

[@vikapica8123]

Great find I’ve read about the arrows My 16 daughter is about to solo in a new Cessna with all the garmin cockpit displays What a change in tech!

[@oshtoolman]

I've lived in the bay area for 74 years. This is the first time I've ever heard of this!!!! Thank you for showing us this part of history!!!

[@jbenziggy]

It is a blessing to hear we can offer new facts to folks who’ve been around a while! Thank you very much, sir!

[@dickhertz5973]

I've only lived in the east bay for 70 years and like you this is news to me, fun stuff.

[@robertfansler7800]

The FIRST airmail flight was between Petaluma and Santa Rosa, CA on Feb. 17, 1911; by Fred Wiseman in a hand built bi-plane. The original aircraft is on display at the National Postal Museum in Washington, DC.

[@Hugo-py2ce]

That's awesome. I used to live in santa rosa.

[@pedrodepacas-ic1cb]

Yeah why the misinformation in this vid?

[@inthegarden1]

I lived in the Bay Area for 50+ years and had no idea about these arrows. Drove 680 and 580 hundreds of times and was clueless. I continue to be amazed by my old local history that you discover.

[@WildWestGal]

Sheesh! I'm a senior native of CA who has always loved our CA history, and I knew n o t h i n g about these! Thanks for "doing a Mt. Everest" for us, Jeff, this was very interesting, indeed! ❤

[@jbenziggy]

Glad you enjoyed it! It sure wasn’t Mt. Everest but sure felt like it! 🤪

[@rlam8805]

Wow! I live within walking distance from here, and have frequently taken my dog in the past for walks, but didn't know this landmark was here. I've been very near many times but wasn't aware!! Thank you Jeff!!

[@davidniehaus202]

Jeff would you fulfill my request by visiting the grave of John philip sousa please and you are a sweet kind guy on youtube 🎃🎃

[@Pontiac65Cat]

I’m pretty close too, my dad told me about this arrow when I was pretty young.

[@donphillips5957]

I just imagine the number of people who go up there with no idea what they're looking at. It really is fascinating to find this out.

[@rosezingleman5007]

I thought I knew a lot about early aviation in the US, but I had no idea these existed. Thanks for making the hike for us!

[@stevebirch7476]

Same here. Had no clue.

[@RaoulStankovitch]

Yes, my Dad landed at the Milford UT, US AirMail station in 1930. It was labeled the #44 station along the LA-SL route. I'm building it as it appeared in 1/72 scale. A 10x14' power-plant shed, 550 gallon fuel tank and the 53' tall beacon tower - along with the Cessna GC-1 he was flying. ❤

[@waynerudiger1756]

Born 75 years ago and raised in Walnut Creek but I never knew about these. Although the ZIP says Walnut Creek I would have considered them to be more part of Lafayette at the time; I hung out on the other side of town. Thanks for sharing!

[@mcet2000]

As a private pilot for many years, I've only seen 1 but never knew what it was for!. Thank you for your effort it took to bring us this piece of history! Wish I was still flying as I'd love to see that arrow from the air again. At least I'd be able to tell my passengers what it was!!!

[@2Hearts3]

I've never heard of this before, very interesting. In the '80s, i worked for a very nice gentleman who had been a hump pilot (flying cargo and personnel across "the hump" in China) in WWII. He gave me a field trip one day, flying me in his Cessna just as these mail pilots did-- by ground landmarks. It was a fun and interesting day, and so is your wonderful video, sharing with us an interesting view of our country's history in its early days of flight. Thank you so much for your great efforts in bringing us these videos 🏆🛩️

[@ScratchGlass9]

Great memory !

[@vikinggenie]

I have driven up 680 several thousand times and had no idea these existed. Very neat piece of History.

[@raysanguinetti7208]

Lived in the Dub C for 27.5 years and hiked the open space trails many-many times and had no idea the arrows were there! Love this channel!

[@christopherconwell7271]

This episode was super interesting 🤔 I never knew they had these arrows to guide them and that they still exist is amazing. Thanks History Hunters for another Great One.!

[@KB6YAF]

You will always get a THUMB'S UP from me Jeff. Thanks again for 'breaking a sweat for us that would probably suffer a heart attack doing this! ......Russell D.

[@skylark1250]

Interesting. Lived in Walnut Creek for a while, never knew about this! Thanks for making the trek and the history.

[@jbenziggy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@terryeustice5399]

Why do Vandals? Do this. This a great historical mail arrow. Without instruments. It made it easier for the pilots. Thank you Jeff for sharing. No never knew of these. But, always learn something with your videos!

[@BrianHanscom0790]

Thank you for hiking up that hill for us for another amazing episode. I have always had a love of aviation. I learned about these in high school history classes but I took honors/AP classes. I have seen many pictures of them but never visited any arrow in person. Watching from Pahrump Nevada 🇺🇲

[@georgemccoy219]

Another great episode Jeff! I learned about the network of arrows across the country a few years ago and have seen some that still have the light towers and one that still had the shell of the beacon (with lenses long gone of course!!) Amazing to think about the navigational skills of the early pilots who had to use a compass, a crude map and a watch to navigate. Things we just take for granted in our modern-day world of GPS. BTW, yes I appreciate the effort you put into climbing the hill to do the episode! Best wishes to you and Sarah!

[@sweepthebeach]

I grew up in a house at the bottom of this Acalanes Ridge starting in 1964. The ridge and surrounding open space was our playground for exploring, building forts, riding bikes, sliding down the hills on cardboard boxes. At the time, there was a cinder block hut on the center slab, which was a great place to play (the beacon tower was gone). We knew that the arrows were part of air navigation, but just assumed it was for the military or airliners. Nice to learn more about the airmail history. The ridge top was still accessible to cars coming up from the Lafayette side, and it was a popular weekend party spot back then.

[@CookieCrumbFun]

You just gave my family a new homeachool adventure. We'll be trekking there soon for a peek. ❤

[@davecarpenter7370]

That’s cool! I have never heard of the arrows. Modern aircraft pilots fallow freeways and other landmarks even though they have sophisticated instruments that guide them. Thanks for hiking up the hill Jeff. You are a dedicated film maker. Your viewers better appreciate it.

[@lanceolson9366]

Wow I've never heard of this how interesting. We take a lot of things for granted. Those pilots had to have good vision.👍

[@rhondaz356]

I did know about these arrows, because I saw a video on one before. I honestly don't recall where it was located.🤔 I would bet that many of the people who visit there, have no idea why the arrow exists. They probably have just heard that it's there, and come prepared. It is a shame that spray paint is evident in so, so many abandoned places.😑 Thank you, Jeff for battling the forces of nature, including gravity, to climb to the top of that hill.😅 It was very interesting, and deserves to be told.😊 They really are historic remains. 🛩👏🏻👏🏻💛🤗

[@jacquelinebloom4339]

Thanks for the history lesson. I did not know about these arrows. How gutsy those pilots were to follow them!

[@WayneKline]

Hey Jeff, I am sure I speak for all of your Subscribers, we appreciate you making the climb. Hello from London and was great to be watching your weekly History lesson. Another great video Jeff, thank you! 🙏

[@jbenziggy]

I really appreciate hearing your input week after week! Thank you! For some reason I thought you resided in Australia!

[@nicholedecker9124]

This is the first I've heard of the air mail arrows! How fascinating! I have learned so much about history from your channel. Thank you!

[@DK-et6lm]

My uncle lived in Walnut Creek 40 something years. I wonder if he knew about these arrows. He loved history. When I visited him he would take me on long tours of San Francisco history. He died several years ago of dementia. Thanks for the video.

[@ford32able]

I lived in Walnut Creek for a long time and never knew that those arrows existed. One more time you and Sara find things that makes history jump out and slap me in the face as to how much I appreciate what you do. Can't thank you enough for all that you do...again, thanks.

[@fs357mag]

Very very cool! Thanks for hiking up there for us. Appreciated. 👍🏻

[@jbenziggy]

Our pleasure! Thank you!

[@alexmartinez7278]

Looks like a beautiful day is beginning.

[@sandyjohn5837]

I found this video about the Air Mail very interesting, Jeff, as my father was an Air Mail pilot (early 1940's) and delivered mail all around the Northern, Mi. area! TYSM and God bless!

[@sharylcherwa7369]

Funny, ive studied & Taught A Lot of History yet i have Never Heard of the Arrows that Guided the Air Mail. Thank you Jeff. I Totally Appropriate your Hike up there. We are Never to Old to Learn. I Love Learning New Things. Thanks for Teaching me Something New Today.

[@Stephanie-wi2yz]

I love when my notification bell goes off for your channel. Always interesting and informative.

[@jbenziggy]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@4cmjohn8]

Thank you Jeff! I have lived in N. Calif. all my life also and never heard of these mail arrows, very interesting! Big thank you for making the trek up the hill! I really enjoyed the view also since I am on 680 going through Concord/Walnut Creek frequently. Yes, it is usually very windy on the stretch between I80 and the Benicia bridge, all the trees are leaning because of the wind 😄. Thank you for all your great work!!

[@joycemchristiansen6557]

And we appreciate your efforts,Jeff. In the recesses of my mind I recalled something about the arrows when you started talking about them. I love the history and learn something new/old every Sunday. Thanks.

[@GreeneEntertainment]

My husband first told me about these arrows. I love that there are still some out there in the nation. There is so so so very much to learn about within a very few feet of ourselves at any place at which we may find ourselves. If we care to expand our experiences. Thank you for bring this information to those who may not have known about it before.

[@bartgoins1782]

Thanks for this episode, Jeff. I'm a private pilot in Idaho, and learned of the arrows several years ago. My wife and I had planned to do a trip following the arrows across the NW US, with the help of GPS, of course. Anyway, another interesting show, and I thank you.

[@jbenziggy]

That is awesome! Hope you get to trace the arrows with your honey!

[@barbarapistella2819]

Yes, we appreciate all that you do. Thank you for your videos. I really enjoy them 😊

[@jbenziggy]

So nice of you! Thank you, Barbara!

[@clifflambert3283]

Appreciate what you and Sarah do Jeff. Y'all take me places I will never visit in person and for that I salute you both!

[@jbenziggy]

Thank you so much, Cliff! Hope you enjoyed this one!

[@swansfan6944]

I bet there has been a lot of people who have seen these arrows from the air, and wondered what on earth they are. Very interesting 🤔 thanks for hiking up there. ❤️Jodie 🇦🇺

[@susanpeterson8529]

What a fascinating story Jeff! And to think they are still there. Any chance you can follow the arrows? That would be awesome!

[@TomCooper]

Most of the arrows are long gone. You might be able to follow some short sections in very remote areas.

[@annalynn8506]

Thank you for walking up there for the rest of us who can't I sure enjoyed seeing the arrow your videos are always so interesting

[@nhdenver7883]

Hey Jeff! I DO APPRECIATE what you do! Thanks for this trek. Great to learn a bit more about our history here in the U.S.

[@garyschlagel995]

THANKS, JEFF & SARAH! FOR SHARING THIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE PAST! OTHERWISE WHO WOULD HAVE KNOWN!

[@TomCooper]

I think I heard about this navigation system in high school (45 years ago). I totally forgot about it until about a year ago when I stumbled on a web site while searching for an example of an early radio navigation map. I tried to ignore it, but it kept coming up and so I had to learn more. So I just recently taught myself about these arrows and how the first national aviation navigation system was created by the post office!

[@DiscoDashco]

Clicked here just to say that if I could live in Walnut Creek, I would! I loved the disc golf course there at Walden Park, not too far from town center.

[@tdc1012]

So cool. Yet again I learned some history from your video, Jeff. I grew up in Fairfield and I never knew about these arrows until today. And I am 56 years old and did not know this. Lol! Thanks! 👍👍

[@musiknbooks]

I learn something new every day! Never heard of these, but so interesting! Thanks to you and Sarah!

[@jbenziggy]

Our pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@davidhelton9698]

Great video. Most people aren't aware of these. Thanks for sharing.

[@sammymanuel5609]

That's awesome I'm an aviation and didn't even know nothing about that. America has a lot of history that we don't even know we're not even touched on thank you for showing that.

[@philipcollins5440]

Jeff, this was gr8. I didn't know about the arrows. Thanks for your effort😊

[@richardbeee]

Love y'all. Appreciate your efforts and your history. Be blessed by the Best!😊

[@jbenziggy]

Thank you so much!

[@garymckee8857]

I had one of those stamps years when I was a child and I collected stamps. The artwork on those old stamps was magnificent. Thanks 👍

[@jbenziggy]

Thanks for sharing!! I used to collect stamps many moons ago. I switched to autographs!

[@andreajohnson1796]

I worked in the post office before, and always wondered about the Pony Express and air mail the struggles are real way back than , they came a long way and to this day in age we still use the postal service ,Thanks for sharing Jeff always a great blessing

[@jbenziggy]

Happy to know our videos are a blessing to you! Thank you! You guys bless us too!

[@stargater2892]

First I've heard of airmail arrows. Thanks Jeff. I love these tidbits of history.

[@jbenziggy]

You bet!

[@TomPauls007]

Cool - I'll have to drive over there and check this out! Had no idea...

[@1960fusion]

Too Cool, i look at those hills from my office Monday-Friday and had no idea that they were there...Thanks for sharing!

[@jbenziggy]

You bet! Thank you for watching and the comment! Loved it!

[@ScottCarlson-cz7wj]

Awesome video, Thanks! Charles Lindbergh had a course of calculated risk and parachute use before heading east over the pond. Those men were men! I had some flight training and, this is one guy who only flies during the day and in perfect weather!!

[@talesfromanoldmanpatoneal6372]

Yes, Jeff I have heard of those concrete arrows. I learned about them from a documentary on our US Mail service. Apparently those arrows are throughout the United States. I've not seen them in person so I appreciate you making the hike. As always thank you for taking us on the adventure.

[@frankmarullo228]

Jeff I love what you guys do , it makes me sick how people destroy things with gretiffy , it's on everything. Thank you for another good one. PS. If you ever get to montana get in touch with me I will send lots of info . on ghost towns and grave yards .THANK you Frank from montana.....

[@johnpeddicord4932]

Probably chipped away concrete for souvenirs, enjoyed again Jeff

[@lacdebienne47]

Fascinating, thanks for this episode ! Living in Switzerland, I do a lot of hiking myself, but... I also enjoy the «Armchair Travel» aka watching your history episodes ! Great work you're doing.

[@whip-its_dad4239]

Thank you for your efforts Sir . Being a 4th generation native Californian I enjoy them very much .

[@jbenziggy]

Right on! Thank you so much! Keep watching when you can!

[@philipwood5114]

Yay! Walnut creek! It's about time you Investigated walnut creek !!

[@davidl9372]

I lived in the WC area in my 20's and never heard about the arrows. Thanks for teaching us about this part of history.

[@jbenziggy]

Our pleasure!

[@renar3618]

Thanks for hiking up that hill for all of us viewers. I had never heard of those arrows, and if I'd ever encountered one I know I would wonder what the heck it was. So thanks for this, another educational video.

[@Hevynly1]

I have never heard of this! How amazing! Leave it to History Hunters! Thanks, Jeff!

[@jbenziggy]

You bet! So happy to hear you liked it!

[@ourlifeinwyoming4654]

Talk about timing… I was just having a conversation with someone about these last week!

[@joelhurley2678]

Great video Jeff, and hopefully you sat down before you walked back. Very interesting history of early U.S. Mail. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@Poppy137]

I have actually gotten up there to that arrow!! I was hoping you would be able to the fly your drone too! I think that they stoped using the beacons during the ww2.( not 💯sure on that. I think I found an easier way up there tho😊 Love Your videos, hey Sarah 👋🏻

[@knit1purl1]

Thank you for making the hike for us. No, I had never heard of these. Thanks for letting me know about them.

[@jbenziggy]

Our pleasure! We appreciate the view!

[@fawnpeterson2745]

Thanks for all your efforts to bring us this! We get lots of ideas for our own travels from the places you go and videos you share. Thanks again!

[@mariahwhite785]

I have to say this is the first I've learned of these arrows. Now I'll look them up and see if there are any near me! Thanks Jeff! Great video!

[@brentmcmillan646]

I was completely unaware about the concrete arrow system with beacons to guide the pilots. I would have assumed that they would use a paper map and used natural geographical points to position their flight paths. Great video!!!

[@lindaryno6355]

Very interesting. Although I will say Jeff, that I expected to see you sprinting up that hill!!!

[@smilesatyou38]

thank you for interesting air mail arrows i didn't know but make sense back in yrs be4 Technolgy stuff and thank you hiking hill to show us glad u didn't pass out and etc

[@Irontrianglegarage]

No way! I grew up in that area of Walnut Creek. The Rudgear region. I NEVER knew of this. So cool.

[@ralphpatrick3071]

Every time I see Mt Diablo it reminds me of home/Pleasant Hill. I live in the foothills now. Thanks, Jeff! Interesting as always..

[@cnph7067]

Live in Texas now but lived/grew up in Pleasant Hill area 50 yrs. and still feel in my heart it’s home. Whenever we went on road trips as a kid we always looked I. The distance for Mt Diablo to know we’d be home soon.

[@ralphpatrick3071]

@@cnph7067 CPHS Class of 1969 here.

[@cnph7067]

@@ralphpatrick3071 I went to YV (84) and met my wife who transferred over when they closed PHHS. My kids went to PH Middle School, formerly PHHS. The entire area was a fantastic place to grow up.

[@cnph7067]

@@ralphpatrick3071 our kids went to CP as well. It’s still a decent school, YV not so much anymore unfortunately.

[@marylouruss1087]

Would be very nice if someone would go and repaint it. So sad. Thanks for the trip.

[@Andykev]

And a month later it would get defaced again, sad.

[@felinemagic4473]

Thank you for climbing up the hill to show us this bit of history. I used to live near their location and never heard of these arrows. It's so sad to see all the graffiti. No respect. Awesome bit of history.

[@jbenziggy]

Yeah I despise graffiti vandals. But in enough time their “work” goes bye bye Thanks to the elements.

[@randomvintagefilm273]

1922 Surf Team? Thats the year my pops was born. My favorite number

[@SteveTRYK]

Great video and thanks for the plug of my channel The Reno You Know! Cheers!!!

[@melodymichaelis8783]

I never heard of these! Thank you for informing me

[@rossbabcock3790]

I grew up in Pleasant Hill in the 60s. I've hiked Acalanes, Black Diamond, Diablo and Briones and this is the first I heard of it.

[@lindsaymacpherson8782]

Well done on the climb and amazing history. Can you imagine even trying to fly a plane with all the cross winds there let alone one so old. Really loved this one Jeff Thankyou and thankyou for all the hard work to put this together

[@jbenziggy]

You are so welcome, friend!

[@scottyg9167]

Grew up in Walnut Creek/Lafayette area but had no idea this existed. Cool!

[@cnph7067]

Thx Jeff! I grew up and lived in the 680/24 area 50 yrs. I have been up to that spot many times.I always wondered why the arrows were there, but never really looked into it. Love your channel

[@jbenziggy]

Very cool! Thank you! We love those words, “Love your channel.”

[@cnph7067]

@@jbenziggy Jeff, as a kid every summer my Dad would drive us all over CA looking at historic places so watching your channel brings back great memories. Besides seeing places I’ve been you often showcase little known places. Thank you for what you do

[@timmeekings6899]

Brilliant video. It's one if those things that I didn't know existed, but makes absolute sense. 👍 Thanks Jeff.

[@Luanne21]

I had no idea. Thank you for sharing all this History. God Bless you and your family.

[@barbarabooth9824]

I know of the arrow’s but I did not know we had one here in Walnut Creek. Thank you for showing it😊😊

[@HollywoodGraham]

We appreciate all your videos, thanks to you we learn of new places we did not know about all the time.

[@jbenziggy]

Our pleasure!

[@user-pp8bh2md6m]

This is great! I spend a lot of time at this arrow for my work (I lead off-leash dog hikes and do training) and while I had figured they must have been for planes, learning the full history is very cool. Thanks!

[@jbenziggy]

That is awesome!

[@nickpaz2421]

Jeff, I few years ago I discovered your channel. I absolutely love it. I’ve learned a lot about Calif. history as well as other states. I am a pilot and did not know about these arrows. Every time I see your videos I learn something new. Keep up the good work and thanks for the effort you put into making these videos and bringing history to us. Take care.

[@jbenziggy]

Awesome, thank you, Nick! Your comment is really truly appreciated! In fact, it made my morning! It’s nice to know that all the work I do is appreciated by good people like me!

[@mikediehl1468]

Wow! I never knew this! Incredible....and that answers questions about historic navigation

[@161papa]

Another interesting episode. I had never heard of these arrows before this video. Thanks for sharing, Jeff.

[@rosaszymanski4601]

I did not know that these arrows exist, so interesting. Thank you!☕️

[@ricanhavoc9965]

What an amazing bit of history! Thanks for doing the hike Jeff!!

[@jbenziggy]

You’re welcome! Thank you for going along with me!

[@ivanruiz2218]

That was awesome, thank you. There is something beautiful about that spot.

[@jbenziggy]

Glad you enjoyed it! It was probably more beautiful in the time these arrows were built! The Bay Area today is so crowded now!

[@webchuck1]

Hello Jeff, Thanks for sharing this interesting story and learning the history on airmail. Have a wonderful day! Happy 😊 day