I am starting a dissertation on 1930-40s aviation architecture, particularly terminal buildings. Anyone able to contribute to my list of dis-used airports, in need of preservation?

-- Dianna Beaufort (dbeaufort@hotmail.com), February 20, 2001

Answers

A good subject of great personal interest to me. Do you intend to cover buildings outside the USA, if so I may be able to help with some further references? Wartime aviation architecture is another huge subject, which might be outside your thesis - it would seem to offer too wide a subject.

The original beehive terminal building at London Gatwick is still extant and the very interesting Hangar at Liverpool Speke Airport has been the subject of a very recent conversion job.

-- R Bradshaw (dstc47@indigo.ie), February 23, 2001.

Dianna, Recommend you take a look at an article Barbara Boyd and I wrote for the Winter '98 issue of "Modernism" magazine entitled "Charles Goodman: Mid-Century Architect" (specifically, p. 36). We talk about Goodman's involvement with the design of the original Washington National Airport, built during your timeframe with deco elements. The article is extensively footnoted and should give you numerous research leads.

-- Ron Marshall (modpod_one@yahoo.com), March 15, 2001.

Lakefront Airport in New Orleans, formerly Shushan Field, is, I think, still in use. It looks like the facade of the terminal building is in need of restoration. I'm not certain of the date of the building. There are several sources in N.O. you could turn to: the New Orleans Public Library (www.nutrias.org) is frightfully understaffed but what staff they do have is very knowledgeable and helpful. Also try the Historic New Orleans Collection (www.hnoc.org), and the Preservation Resource Center (www.prcno.org).

-- Barbara Insidioso (bebeaye@yahoo.com), May 11, 2001.

The 1940 Houston Municipal Air Terminal at Hobby Airport (in Houston) is an excellent example. Historic Houston is currently writing the NR to designate this building. A picture of it can be found on our website www.historichouston.org and on www.haverstreet.com (Haver Street Studios, Inc. does the immersive imaging for Historic Houston). The building was designed by Joseph Finger, one of Houston's best architects of this style. I would be interested in getting references from you regarding use of art deco for aviation buildings. That would help our nomination greatly. Thanks.

-- LynnEdmundson (lynn@haverstreet.com), August 01, 2001.

I don't know if this would be helpful, but the Allegheny County Airport terminal(near Pittsburgh) is definitely designed in the Art Deco Style. However, it is still being used, and is in good shape. I know that there are pictures of it on the web, as well. Has tile on the outside in white and black with some great designs. This was the original airport for the Pittsburgh area before they built the larger International Aitport in the late 50's.

-- Toby Wise (tobester1@yahoo.com), October 10, 2001.

There is a fantastic airport in Manila, Phillipines, built by the USA and recently converted to a shopping mall.

-- robin grow (robingrow@ozemail.com.au), April 19, 2002.

It's been awhile since I lived there, but Bowman Airfield in Louisville, KY has a lovely terminal, including an excellent restaraunt (Rialto's, I believe it is called. This airport is still in use.

-- Regina Harris (reginaharris2000@yahoo.com), June 05, 2002.

I flew into Long Beach, California airport last fall and was amazed that the entire building, down to the clocks, door handles, everything is still the original (I think) deco period stuff. I walked around feeling as though I was back in the 30's. Great airport...still very much in use. I hope they save it.

-- George Foster (gfoster@jouaninc.com), June 08, 2002.

There are definately some Art Deco Style buildings left at Croydon Airport ( The Old London Airport, before Heathrow) it is just outside Croydon, Surrey in the UK in the suburbs of London. You may find some references on the web if you search for Croydon Airport or London Airport. Hope this helps.

-- Stuart Hewitt-Hall (shewitthall@tuberunner.co.uk), June 20, 2002.

The Newark Airport Terminal c. 1935 is a restored Art Deco airport building with authentic materials and workmanship based on researches and original design plans./

I worked in that 1935 building during WWII for six months and in the second floor hallways there were nmurals depicting the hiustory of flight in art deco motifs that were echoed throughout that building. The terminal buildibg was topped by what some historians believe was the fiurst fully equipped airport control tower in commercial aviation dating to 1935. Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh were there and Earhart was at the building dedication in 1935.

The airport terminal has been fully restored by the NY and Nj Port Authority and in addition to housing some operations offices will contain an aviation museum,

Forrest S. Clark

b24vet@aol.com

WWII veteran assigned to work in the building 1945.

-- Forrest S. Clark (b24vet@aol.com), January 08, 2003.

The Newark Airport Terminal c. 1935 is a restored Art Deco airport building with authentic materials and workmanship based on researches and original design plans. The terminal building is located at the original passenger departure area of Newark International Airport and is part of the history of this pioneering commercial aviation center.

I worked in that 1935 building during WWII for six months and in the second floor hallways there were nmurals depicting the history of flight in art deco motifs that were echoed throughout that building. The terminal buildibg was topped by what some historians believe was the fiurst fully equipped airport control tower in commercial aviation dating to 1935. Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh were there and Earhart was at the building dedication in 1935.

The airport terminal has been fully restored by the NY and Nj Port Authority and in addition to housing some operations offices will contain an aviation museum,

Forrest S. Clark

b24vet@aol.com

WWII veteran assigned to work in the building 1945.

-- Forrest S. Clark (b24vet@aol.com), January 08, 2003.

I know of three terminal buildings that have not been mentioned yet.

The terminal building at the St. Paul airport in Minnesota, still actively used.

Felts Field, Spokane Washington, still active.

The main terminal building at the famous '30's airport at Glendale, CA still exists, although the airport is long gone. This building is currently abandonded, and needs to be saved as it is quite spectacular.

-- robert coussens (robert.coussens@cigna.com), March 07, 2003.

I would check out.

http://members.tripod.com/airfields_freeman/

The little abandoned airport in Chardon OH has a wonderful deco building that should be preserved.

-- Jonathan (airport@westerling.com), March 19, 2003.

Manchester Airport (New Hampshire) is still the host of the second terminal (WPA Project 1937). We (The New Hampshire Aviation Historical Society) have the good fortune of becoming the primary tenants of the building. It is scheduled to move avross the runway this Fall. A beautiful glass tower is still intact. The roof leakes but the deep, round windows, from which Northeast and Boston Maine passengers once gazed will provide able sights for current visitors to the modern ancestors of the earliest flights. It is structurally sound and we are proud to be preserving this jewell! Come visit! Barb Miles

-- Barbara D. Miles (bmiles@politicallibrary.org), August 08, 2003.

What a winderful list of correspndents about Art Deco and vintage airport buildings from all over the nation and the world.

We should join to write a definitive book about these airport buildings and get it oublished.

I am very encouraged by all the responses and thank all those who contributed. It was most stimulating and educational and I hope we can keep it going.

Newark Air Passenger Terminal c. 1934-35 is one of the over- looked ones on the list and deserves to be recognized for its contributions to early commercial aviation.

-- Forrest S. Clark (b24vet@aol.com), September 02, 2003.

Aéroport Le Bourget, Paris, France is also quite representative of Art Deco, beautiful

-- Zack (paris1930@alicemail.fr), September 23, 2004.

The list couldn't be complete without the wonderful Marine Air Terminal at Laguardia. The murals and design details are intact, and the cafeteria serves the best home made, not airport food in the country!

In the spectacular lobby are historic photos of the airport, once the departure point for the elegant trans-Atlantic Pan Am Clippers.

-- F. Harrison (scitu8ma@yahoo.com), December 20, 2004.

the New Orleans Sushan is written up in our latest CADS magazine. the exterior has been covered up or modernized, but much of the interior has wonderful deco details. You can order the issue from our web site: www.chicagoartdecosociety.com there is also a hangar and a wpa sculpture/fountain by Enrique Alvarez depicting flight. The same issue discusses passenger flight in the 30's including the Boeing (Pan Am) Clipper. Private planes continue to use the airport.

-- Bennett Johnson (decoben@comcast.net), February 11, 2005.