The Works Progress Administration (WPA), in conjunction with the War Department, developed what is now known as Hanscom Air Force Base / Field in Massachusetts. WPA project details: “Improvements to municipal airport” Official Project Number: 165‐1‐14‐490 Total project cost: $195,895.00 Sponsor:… read more
“The prominence of soaring in Elmira was established with the first thirteen national soaring contests, held here from 1930 to 1946. This was made possible through an alliance of the Soaring Society of America (SSA), the Harris Hill Soaring Corporation… read more
“Hartford-Brainard Airport, located in the city of Hartford, has historically been one of the busiest general aviation airports in the state. In 1921, a 350-acre cow pasture became the chosen site for what has been called the country’s first municipal… read more
The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked to develop the precursor to what is now Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, then known as Atlanta Municipal Airport or Candler Field, during the 1930s.
The terminal building was constructed in 1936 for the Jackson Municipal Airport (then called Davis Field). The airport continued to expand with new runways and other amenities funded by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) until 1941, including use of the… read more
Hensley Field is a military base and former Naval Air Station located in Grand Prairie, Texas that was established in 1928. Originally created as an Army Aviation Center, the base became home to all military service’s aviators. In 1936, Hensley… read more
“Hill Air Force Base (HAFB), originally known as Hill Field, was the site for the Ogden Air Depot, whose name underwent several changes until it became the Ogden Air Materiel Area. The depot’s original mission was to repair and maintain… read more
Between 1935 and 1941, the WPA contributed nearly $300,000 to the expansion and improvement of the Hilo Airport, then known as General Lyman Field (e.g., significant lengthening of runways). Today, the airport serves well over 1 million passengers per year… read more
The Holman Field Administration Building at St. Paul Downtown Airport in St. Paul, Minnesota was constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: “The Holman Field Administration Building is significant under criterion C as… read more
Between 1935 and 1937, the WPA contributed $38,000 to extending the runways of John Rodgers Airport (now Honolulu International Airport). Today, the airport serves well over 18 million passengers per year and provides a landing area for 370,000 tons of… read more
The W.P.A. developed what is now known as Houlton International Airport, in Houlton, Maine. W.P.A. project info: “Construct municipal airport” Official Project Number: 165‐1‐11‐102 Total project cost: $669,295.00 Sponsor: Town of Houlton “Improvements to municipal airport” Official Project Number: 65‐1‐11‐2213 Total… read more
NPS.gov: “The Idaho Falls Airport Historic District was constructed by the Works Project Administration (WPA). The WPA in Idaho, and across the country, placed a high priority on airport and airway projects, both to support the new and booming air… read more
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 Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked to improve Johnson County Airport outside Buffalo, Wyoming.
“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.” “Work on… read more
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
In 1940-41, the Works Projects Administration (WPA) made a major upgrade to the Long Beach Airport, then known as Daugherty Field, which had been constructed in 1923. WPA relief workers improved the airport runways, as well as constructing a new… read more
In 1940-41, the Works Projects Administration (WPA) made major improvements to the Long Beach Airport, then known as Daugherty Field. WPA relief workers constructed a new terminal and control tower building “In the late 1930s, the council approved plans… 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
