1940 Air Terminal Museum - History

History

The museum is housed in the Houston Municipal Airport Terminal, an airport terminal that was constructed in 1940. The terminal building is an example of classic art deco airport architecture from the 1940s. The terminal served Houston during the years when air travelers dressed in formal clothing and embarked for destinations aboard roaring prop liners like the Douglas DC-3 and the Lockheed Constellation. Designed by architect Joseph Finger (who also designed Houston's City Hall), the terminal was built to meet Houston's growing role as a center for air commerce in the 1930s. The terminal served as the primary commercial air terminal for Houston until 1954, and was used by various tenants until 1978. In 1978, Hobby Airport's manager James Delong proposed demolishing the 1940 terminal to free up ramp space, but enthusiasts blocked the demolition. The terminal was then unoccupied for nearly 30 years.


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