Douglas Municipal Airport
E end of 10th Ave., Douglas, AZDouglas Municipal Airport is a capsule history of early aviation in Arizona.
There were several airplane landings at Douglas before the airport was built. In 1911 Robert Fowler, the first eastbound pilot to fly from the Pacific to the Atlantic (Los Angeles, California to Pablo Beach, Florida), landed at Douglas in a field north of town.
There were several early landings on the parade grounds at Camp Harry J. Jones Military Reservation is about a mile west of the present airport. The first military aircraft to fly into Arizona landed there in 1916. In July of 1919, Lt. Morton H. McKinnon landed on the parade grounds when he made his first border patrol flight from El Paso to Douglas.
In August of 1919, the 96th Aero Squadron became the first air squadron based in Arizona. It performed as a border patrol.
In 1926 the border airdromes at Douglas and Nogales were closed, and steps were taken to secure an international airport for Douglas. Early in 1928, Cochise County and Douglas appropriated $17,500 for that purpose, and the Douglas International Airport was in use by July 1928.
The first transcontinental air-rail schedule was established by Standard Airlines in February of 1929 with stops at Douglas. At this time there were no night flights, so passengers transferred to the Texas and Pacific at El Paso.
In March of 1929 Army aircraft engaged in border patrol during the Escobar Rebellion were based at Douglas. In August of that same year, Douglas was an overnight stop for the first Powder Puff Derby. In October 1930 Douglas became a stop on the first transcontinental airmail route.
Probably the most unusual feature of the airport was the fact that its runway extended into Mexico, and planes could taxi through a gate from one country to the other. The Mexican side of the airport is now unusable because of arroyo cutting, and the town of Agua Prieta, Sonora, has built a new facility a little to the southwest.
Local significance of the district:
There were several airplane landings at Douglas before the airport was built. In 1911 Robert Fowler, the first eastbound pilot to fly from the Pacific to the Atlantic (Los Angeles, California to Pablo Beach, Florida), landed at Douglas in a field north of town.
There were several early landings on the parade grounds at Camp Harry J. Jones Military Reservation is about a mile west of the present airport. The first military aircraft to fly into Arizona landed there in 1916. In July of 1919, Lt. Morton H. McKinnon landed on the parade grounds when he made his first border patrol flight from El Paso to Douglas.
In August of 1919, the 96th Aero Squadron became the first air squadron based in Arizona. It performed as a border patrol.
In 1926 the border airdromes at Douglas and Nogales were closed, and steps were taken to secure an international airport for Douglas. Early in 1928, Cochise County and Douglas appropriated $17,500 for that purpose, and the Douglas International Airport was in use by July 1928.
The first transcontinental air-rail schedule was established by Standard Airlines in February of 1929 with stops at Douglas. At this time there were no night flights, so passengers transferred to the Texas and Pacific at El Paso.
In March of 1929 Army aircraft engaged in border patrol during the Escobar Rebellion were based at Douglas. In August of that same year, Douglas was an overnight stop for the first Powder Puff Derby. In October 1930 Douglas became a stop on the first transcontinental airmail route.
Probably the most unusual feature of the airport was the fact that its runway extended into Mexico, and planes could taxi through a gate from one country to the other. The Mexican side of the airport is now unusable because of arroyo cutting, and the town of Agua Prieta, Sonora, has built a new facility a little to the southwest.
Transportation
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
The Navajo Code Talkers played a crucial role in World War II: During World War II, the Navajo Code Talkers used their native language to transmit coded messages that the Japanese were unable to decipher. The code was never broken, and the Code Talkers are credited with playing a crucial role in helping the US win the war.
About Cochise County
Cochise County Timeline
Cochise County, located in southeastern Arizona, has a rich and diverse history that spans thousands of years. The area was originally home to various indigenous populations, including the Apache, Hohokam, and Sobaipuri people. These native groups lived off the land, hunting and practicing agricultural techniques, leaving behind remarkable artifacts and heritage sites.
The arrival of European settlers in the late 17th century brought significant changes to the region. The Spanish established missions and presidios, seeking to convert the native people to Christianity and assert control over the area. However, conflicts between the Apache and Spanish colonizers were frequent, as the Apache fiercely defended their territory and resisted colonization.
In the mid-19th century, tensions escalated in Cochise County as white settlers encroached upon Apache lands. One of the most notable figures of this time was Cochise, a prominent Apache chief who resisted the encroachment and fought against the US Army. Notorious conflicts such as the Battle of Apache Pass and the Apache Wars became synonymous with the region's history.
The establishment of mining towns in the late 19th century greatly influenced the development of Cochise County. Silver, gold, and copper mines attracted a wave of immigrants, creating bustling towns like Tombstone and Bisbee. These towns prospered for several decades, but by the early 20th century, the mining industry declined, leading to economic hardships for the county.
Today, Cochise County is known for its stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant communities. It continues to attract visitors with its historical sites, including Tombstone's historic district and the Chiricahua National Monument, while embracing its Native American roots and celebrating the diverse cultural influences that have shaped the region.
The arrival of European settlers in the late 17th century brought significant changes to the region. The Spanish established missions and presidios, seeking to convert the native people to Christianity and assert control over the area. However, conflicts between the Apache and Spanish colonizers were frequent, as the Apache fiercely defended their territory and resisted colonization.
In the mid-19th century, tensions escalated in Cochise County as white settlers encroached upon Apache lands. One of the most notable figures of this time was Cochise, a prominent Apache chief who resisted the encroachment and fought against the US Army. Notorious conflicts such as the Battle of Apache Pass and the Apache Wars became synonymous with the region's history.
The establishment of mining towns in the late 19th century greatly influenced the development of Cochise County. Silver, gold, and copper mines attracted a wave of immigrants, creating bustling towns like Tombstone and Bisbee. These towns prospered for several decades, but by the early 20th century, the mining industry declined, leading to economic hardships for the county.
Today, Cochise County is known for its stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant communities. It continues to attract visitors with its historical sites, including Tombstone's historic district and the Chiricahua National Monument, while embracing its Native American roots and celebrating the diverse cultural influences that have shaped the region.
Cochise County Timeline
This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Cochise County, Arizona.
- 1850: Cochise County lands become part of the United States through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
- 1860: The Butterfield Overland Mail establishes a stagecoach route through present-day Cochise County.
- 1861: Cochise County is officially established as a county in the Arizona Territory.
- 1877: Tombstone is founded and becomes one of the most prosperous mining towns in the region.
- 1881: The infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral takes place in Tombstone.
- 1886: Cochise County witnesses the surrender of Geronimo, marking the end of the Apache Wars.
- 1915: The Cochise County Courthouse in Bisbee is completed, reflecting the wealth and importance of the mining industry.
- 1961: The closure of the Bisbee copper mines leads to a decline in the county's economy.
- 2003: The border town of Douglas becomes a key entry point for drug smuggling from Mexico.