The Trans-Polar Monument in Vancouver, Washington was built to honor three Soviet aviators who were the first to fly across the polar ice cap. Valerii Chkalov, Georgi Baidukov, and Alexander Beliakov flew their Trans-Polar flight on June 20, 1937 in 63 hours and 16 minutes. They flew from Moscow over the Polar ice cap and landed in Pearson Air Field. They had planned to land in Oakland California but ran short of fuel.
They flew a single engine ANT-25. George C. Marshall, who was then commanding officer at Vancouver Barracks, welcomed them at his home.
This monument is at the south end of Pearson
Airpark. It can be reached from State Route 14.
