Historic Buildings
| Bowman Field Historic District | |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| U.S. Historic district | |
| Location: | Taylorsville Rd. and Peewee Reese Blvd., Louisville, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Area: | 15 acres (6.1 ha) |
| Built: | 1929 |
| Architectural style: | Moderne |
| Governing body: | Local |
| NRHP Reference#: | 88002616 |
| Added to NRHP: | November 10, 1988 |
In 1988, three adjacent buildings at the airport were added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Bowman Field Historic District. They are the airport Administration Building (1929; 1936–37), the Curtiss Flying Service Hangar (1929), and the Army Air Corps Hangar (1931–32). Since many urban airports are located in industrial areas, this verdant setting is unusual and contributes to the ambience of the Bowman Field Historic District.
The buildings of the Bowman Field Historic District are related not only by historical function and physical proximity, but by their Art Deco/Art Moderne styling and through the use of masonry materials such as brick, stone and concrete.
The dominant landmark of Bowman Field is its terminal, more commonly known as the Administration Building, appropriately styled in aerodynamic Moderne. As constructed in 1929, it was a fairly modest two-story structure with one-story wings, housing administrative and communications offices, weather station, and restaurant. During 1936 and 1937 it was nearly tripled in size. This was accomplished by demolishing the east wing and retaining the west and central sections to serve as west wings of the new building. The Administration Building faces an elliptical landscaped island surrounded by a driveway and paved parking area.
Charles Lindbergh landed the Spirit of St. Louis here in 1927 on a visit to 10,000 spectators.
The 1920s Art-Deco style Le Relais French restaurant has made its home in the airport’s historic terminal for more than 25 years.
Read more about this topic: Bowman Field (airport)
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