What was then the San Juan Naval Air Station, now Isla Grande Airport in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico, was developed in substantial part with Work Projects Administration (WPA) labor. Nearly $2,000,000 were expended on such infrastructure development projects at… read more
Jacksonville Municipal Airport, also known as Jacksonville Army Airfield and later Imeson Field, was developed in part by the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA). One archival image shows that the WPA paved a runway at the airport in 1936. “The… read more
Newton, Mississippi’s James H. Eason Field, formerly known as O’Keefe Airport, was dedicated November 12, 1934. O’Keefe was instrumental, as a federal Civil Works Administration (CWA) employee, in bringing several CWA-funded airports to Mississippi. The then-cost of the project was… read more
“The airport … outside Connellsville was one of the first in Western Pennsylvania, opening in 1938. It was the product of a cooperative effort between the city of Connellsville, Fayette County and the federal Works Progress Administration program.”
A $42,427 WPA grant was used to improve Kalispell airport. According to Montana’s Big Timber Pioneer newspaper, the work involved “cement floors for the hangar, construction of a large warmup block, construction of three runways 400 by 2,600 feet, painting… read more
In 1935, students and graduates of the Kamehameha School in Hawaii began research activities on Howland Island (an uninhabited coral island about 1,700 nautical miles southwest of Hawaii). Intrestingly, they also intended to colonize the island: “The Kamehameha colonists constructed… read more
“The Kansas Aviation Museum in Wichita, Kansas occupies a beautiful WPA (Works Progress Administration) building which was the Wichita Municipal Airport terminal from 1935 to 1951.”
As part of a state-wide airport construction project, the Maine Emergency Relief Administration provided the labor for the construction of the Kennebunk Airport, a NW-SE 2000′ x 100′ graded runway. It was abandoned 50 years ago; the site now houses… read more
At the time, it was said to be the largest single-span hangar in California, at 132 feet deep and 200 feet long. Construction involved 50 men, and it was supervised by Cecil Meadows, superintendent at Kern County Airport. "Under direction… read more
“In mid-February 1941, Congress appropriated $693,125 to the WPA to construct three 3,500-foot runways and appropriate navigational aids. With the full cooperation of the Owls Head Board of Selectmen, the principal parties signed a formal agreement in early March, and… read more
“In 1934, the original Laconia Airport was built in the vicinity of what is now the O’Shea Industrial park. The current airport was built in Gilford in 1941, with funding from the WPA (Works Progress Administration), the City of Laconia,… read more
Construction of New York’s LaGuardia Airport was among the largest undertakings of the New Deal’s Works Progress Administration (WPA) and included both today’s main airport (then the “landplane field”) and what is now the Marine Air Terminal (then the “seaplane… read more
“The Civil Works Administration was absorbed by the FERA in the spring of 1934, but it had several projects underway by that time. On land leased from Dr. J. F. Williams and G. B. Truka of Daytona Beach, it was… read more
Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) labor worked to develop Lawrence Municipal Airport in North Andover, Mass., in conjunction with the City of Lawrence and the War Department. W.P.A. project details: “Andover: Improve municipal airport” Official Project Number: 65‐1‐14‐374 Total project cost:… read more
Lebanon Municipal Airport was developed by the Works Progress Administration, a New Deal program. Tennessee Encyclopedia: “Some of Tennessee’s largest WPA projects reflected the arrival of the age of flight. WPA workers helped complete landing fields and airports at Jellico,… read more
The W.P.A. worked to develop Lewistown Municipal Airport in Montana. Project details: “Develop airport site” Official Project Number: 165‐1‐91‐48 Total project cost: $66,752.00 Sponsor: City of Lewistown “Develop airport site” Official Project Number: 165‐1‐91‐XX Total project cost: $63,975.00 Sponsor: City… read more
Then known as East Boston Airport, what is now Logan International Airport was developed in part during the 1930s with federal Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) funds and labor. W.P.A. project details: “Improve airport” Official Project Number: 165‐1‐14‐493 Total project cost:… read more
These murals and mosaics depicting aviation, navigation, zodiac and constellations are in various locations throughout the Long Beach Airport Terminal. They were created by then 28-year-old artist Grace Clements. From Early Aviation in Long Beach: “Long Beach declared the terminal… read more
In the 1930s the WPA worked on the Long Beach Airport, making improvements to the fields and runways and constructing a new terminal and control tower building: “In the late 1930s, the council approved plans to purchase 255 acres adjoining… read more
Mines Field opened as the official airport of Los Angeles in 1930, but when it applied for WPA funds in 1935, it was rejected because the land was still leased from private owners. In 1937, the city took full control… read more
The National Industrial Recovery Administration awarded the “United States Public Works project no. NRH-13-B, Maalaea Airport Spur, for the sum of $25,574.76.” The airport was closed permanently in 1939.
“Macon Downtown Airport has its origins beginning in World War I as “Camp Wheeler”. As early as 1925, Huff Daland Dusters, the precursor of Delta Air Lines, based its crop dusting operation at Camp Wheeler. In 1936 the City of… read more
“In 1937, this art deco terminal was a bold architectural statement for rural New Hampshire. Built as one of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects that sprinkled New Hampshire with unique, useful structures and employed hundreds of Granite State residents,… read more
What became the Marianna Municipal Airport began as a WPA constructed runway in the 1930s, “as part of a 1930’s airmail route between Jacksonville and New Orleans.” The airport was further developed during World War II.
Construction of New York’s LaGuardia Airport was among the largest undertakings of the New Deal’s Works Progress Administration (WPA) and included both today’s main airport (then the “landplane field”) and what is now the Marine Air Terminal (then the “seaplane… read more
“United States Marine Corps Airbase—The completion during the year of a P.W.A. project for the construction of a Marine Corps airbase at Lindbergh Bay estate has been important both because it has given employment to local labor and because it… read more
This New Deal airport, originally known as Mt. Bullion Airfield, was constructed as relief work paid for by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) c. 1934-35 (New York Times 1935). It was later improved by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) c 1938-39. … read more
Built between 1936 and 1939, just prior to and in preparation for WWII. It is now an office park but several of the buildings remain.
McGhee Tyson Airport was constructed by the Works Progress Administration, a New Deal program. Tennessee Encyclopedia: “Some of Tennessee’s largest WPA projects reflected the arrival of the age of flight. WPA workers … built major airports in Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville,… read more
McKellar–Sipes Regional Airport was developed by the Works Progress Administration, a New Deal program. Tennessee Encyclopedia: “Some of Tennessee’s largest WPA projects reflected the arrival of the age of flight. WPA workers helped complete landing fields and airports at Jellico,… read more
“McKinnon worked tirelessly to secure Works Progress Administration and other federal funds. In 1933, Coffin and Jones donated a sizeable tract of land for the new airport. The major portion of the Sea Island Co. land was once part of… read more
Memphis International Airport was developed in part by the Works Progress Administration, a New Deal program. Tennessee Encyclopedia: “Some of Tennessee’s largest WPA projects reflected the arrival of the age of flight. WPA workers … built major airports in Memphis,… read more
Both the original Merced Municipal Airport and the newer airport at this site were built with WPA funds. The earlier airport “was located off Highway 99 at the intersection of Snelling Road near the Santa Fe Railroad, three miles northwest… read more
This small airport was originally built as Glenn Curtiss Field in the early 1900s and became the Miami Municipal Airport in 1928. It was later renamed Amelia Earhart Field “in honor of the famous aviatrix stopping there on her ill-fated… read more
The federal Works Progresss Administration (WPA) constructed what is now Middlesboro Bell County Airport; the airport was completed in 1936.
“Millinocket Municipal Airport is operated by the Town of Millinocket. Located on Medway Road, the airport has been in existence since the 1930’s when it was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the W.P.A. The airport has two runways,… read more
“The Millville airport was dedicated on August 2, 1941, by local, state, and federal officials. The first contingent of Air Corps personnel arrived on 17 December 1942. In less than a year construction of base facilities began, and in January… read more
The Moberly Airport was a WPA project with a total expenditure of $500,000. The city provided $25,000. It was named after famous son, General Omar Bradley in 1943.
Multiple New Deal agencies were involved in the development of what is now known as Mobile Regional Airport. The Works Progress Administration built runways; and the Civil Works Administration oversaw the construction of terminal buildings and hangars.
Between 1935 and 1942, “the WPA aided the Territory with funds to gradually enlarge and improve the field which was originally a dirt strip (source note 1).