Arthur H. Marshall
 | This biography may need cleanup. (January 2023) |
Arthur H. Marshall | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1885/1886 |
| Died | February 9, 1951 (aged 65) |
| Known for | Being the first to summit the highest point in each U.S. State (48 at the time of completion), finishing in 1936 |
Arthur Harmon Marshall[1] (1885/1886 – February 9, 1951)[2] was the first person to successfully reach the highest point in every U.S. state, of which there were 48 at the time of completion.
Climbing career
[edit]Marshall's first state high point was Mount Rainier of Washington, which he climbed in 1919. Marshall climbed his last state high point, Hoosier Hill of Indiana, in July 1936.[3][4]
As a lifelong bachelor, Marshall was able to find the time to travel to state high points. He worked for the railway and did not drive, and would thus reach each point by travelling at a discount by railway to the nearest station, then hiring a driver to take him as close as possible via roadway.[5] Marshall lived in a hotel while traveling.[6]
In 1936, after completing his initial goal of reaching the highest point in each of the 48 U.S. States, Marshall travelled back to Arkansas as there were two high points of equal elevation, of which he had previously only summited one. To reach the second point, he walked for hours through the woods in a heat wave, and took refuge in a backwoods cabin.[5]
Death
[edit]Marshall died of suicide on February 9, 1951 at the age of 65.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ Winnerman, Jim (November 27, 2022). "These two stand tall among highpointers". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on October 21, 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
- ^ a b FERIS, CHARLES. "OME CLOSE (AND NOT SO CLOSE) ENCOUNTERS WITH THE EARLY HIGHPOINTERS" (PDF). The Oregonian.
- ^ Langeveld, Dirk. "Reaching the top of America". www.theday.com. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
- ^ SHEA, JIM. "For a certain class of climber, life has not one high point but 50". Cape Cod Times. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
- ^ a b Richard, Terry (2 June 2012). "First to climb 48 state high points, Arthur H. Marshall blazed a path that few choose to follow". The Oregonian.
- ^ "Meet People Who Spend Their Vacations Getting High - Washingtonian". 2018-04-20. Retrieved 2024-11-05.