Airmail Routes in Wyoming

In 1920, the post office department commenced the long distance carriage of mail by air. Because airplanes of the era were generally limited to achieving an altitude of 9,000 to 10,000 feet, airplanes going to and from California were fairly well limited to following the same routes as those followed by the Overland Trail and the Union Pacific Railroad. The limited range of aircraft also required division stations to be established in the same manner as that followed earlier by the Overland Stage and the railroad. At the division points, the planes could be refueled and serviced. With establishment of the first airmail routes, Cheyenne was established as the division point between Salt Lake City and Omaha on the Chicago to San Francisco run. Air service commenced in 1920.