Statistics
- Each letter of the air marker is 100 feet high and 12 feet wide!
- The air marker was started in 1951 and completed in 1956.
- It was built by Boy Scout Explorer Post 13.
- Declared a historic aviation landmark.
A Historical Arizona Landmark!
Welcome to the Official
Phoenix Air Marker landmark website
About Us
Thank You
This website is a work in progress.
If you know of any news articles or have any pictures or information related to the air marker, please let us know on our Contact Us page.
Air Marker News
Who Needs This Sign?
Pilot Bob Schaller recalls scout leader Charles Merritt, who had his Air Explorers build the mountain sign as a navigational aid for transient pilots.
Giant Arrow Points to Phoenix
In the 1950s, Phoenix Boy Scouts arranged rocks on a Usery Mountain slope to spell PHOENIX and added a large white arrow pointing toward the airport.
Did You Know: The story behind the huge white Phoenix sign on Usery Mountain
Usery Mountain ranger Brennan Basler describes how Boy Scouts built the giant white Phoenix sign in the 1950s and a later 2010 repaint that used about 430 gallons of paint.
Asked and Answered: Straight answer on arrow to Phoenix
A reader Q&A, drawing on historian Jay Mark, explains how Charles Merritt and Boy Scouts built the 1,000-foot mountainside arrow beginning in 1949 as a guide for pilots.
Phoenix air marker: Iconic mountain sign getting a refresh on New Year’s Day
Members of Gilbert Boy Scout Troop 681 planned to perform maintenance on the Phoenix air marker on Usery Mountain on New Year’s Day.
Gilbert Scout leads restoration of EV landmark
A Gilbert Eagle Scout assembled 38 volunteers, including one of the original builders, to restore the Phoenix air marker on New Year’s Day.
Scouts revive ‘Phoenix’ marker on Usery Mt.
A Gilbert Boy Scout and volunteers from his troop refurbished the Phoenix air marker on Usery Mountain.