
San Francisco Airport
San Francisco Airport aerial view. - National Archives and Records Administration, RG 69-MP Box 6 San Francisco Airport
San Francisco Airport
Description
The airport first opened in 1927 as Mills Field Municipal Airport. It became San Francisco Municipal Airport in 1931, and SF International Airport in 1955. Both the WPA and the PWA were heavily involved in airport construction and expansion:
“[The WPA] Improved the airport by grading, draining, paving and lighting, installing water, gas, electricity, telephone and sewers; building walks, curbs, pavements, new buildings; dredging for seaplane harbor; building seaplane wharves, ramp and seawalls, rock and earth levees and work incidental to making a first class seaplane port.” –Healy, p. 70.
As of 1936, over $1,800,000 had been expended by the WPA. The reclamation of tideland in the San Francisco Bay was financed by a PWA bond issue of $260,000.
Note the varying stages of development and land reclamation in the photos below.
The present airport museum is a replica of the airport waiting room pictured below.
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WPA Workers Filling Bay for SF Airport
WPA Photo, National Archives and Records Administration
WPA Workers Filling Bay for SF Airport
WPA Workers Filling Bay for SF Airport
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San Francisco Airport Administration Buildign (higher resolution)
San Francisco Airport Administration Buildign (higher resolution)
Photo: National Archives Record Group 69-PWA © National Archives. All rights reserved.
San Francisco Airport Administration Buildign (higher resolution)
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Aerial View of SF Airport
"Air view of levee built around San Francisco Municipal Airport, western terminus of United Air Lines and Transcontinental & Western Air Lines. Two of the new runways are shown extending out to levees. Since this picture was taken all of the land, shown here under water, has been filled in and WPA workmen are transforming the port into one of the country's largest an most modern landing fields." - National Archives and Records Administration, Neg. 5585
Aerial View of SF Airport
Aerial View of SF Airport
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View of SF Airport Looking North
"Air view of San Francisco Municipal Airport, western terminus of two transcontinental air lines - United and Transcontinental & Western Air Lines - showing runways. Roadway on the right is Bayshore Highway. When WPA workmen complete work now in progress, the air field will be enlarged to double its original size and will boast four processed runways, ranging in length from 3,300 to 6,000 feet." - National Archives and Records Administration, 10021-D
View of SF Airport Looking North
View of SF Airport Looking North
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San Francisco Airport Aerial Diagram
National archives and Records Administration
San Francisco Airport Aerial Diagram
San Francisco Airport Aerial Diagram
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San Francisco Airport - 2
View looking east. - National Archives and Records Administration
San Francisco Airport - 2
San Francisco Airport - 2
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San Francisco Airport Entrance
WPA Photo, National Archives and Records Administration
San Francisco Airport Entrance
San Francisco Airport Entrance
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San Francisco Airport Runway
Runway "A" Construction, - WPA Photo, National Archives and Records Administration
San Francisco Airport Runway
San Francisco Airport Runway
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San Francisco Airport Administration Building
Constructed with PWA funds. - National Archives and Records Administration, R-1313
San Francisco Airport Administration Building
San Francisco Airport Administration Building
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San Francisco Airport Administration Building - 3
San Francisco Airport Administration Building - 3
San Francisco Airport Administration Building - 3
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San Francisco Airport Administration Building Interior
South end of waiting room from balcony. - National Archives and Records Administration
San Francisco Airport Administration Building Interior
San Francisco Airport Administration Building Interior
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San Francisco Airport Service Building
National Archives and Records Administration
San Francisco Airport Service Building
San Francisco Airport Service Building
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Quarry Work for San Francisco Airport Construction
WPA Photos, National Archives and Records Administration
Quarry Work for San Francisco Airport Construction
Quarry Work for San Francisco Airport Construction
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San Francisco Airport Landing Field Extension Fill
National Archives and Records Administration
San Francisco Airport Landing Field Extension Fill
San Francisco Airport Landing Field Extension Fill
Project Details
Federal Cost |
Local Cost |
Total Cost |
Project #'s |
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2171947 |
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Source notes
Healy, Clyde E. San Francisco Improved: Report of Clyde E. Healy, Assistant City Engineer - City of San Francisco and Coordinator of W.P.A. Projects, Period October 10, 1935 to August 31, 1939. San Francisco : [s.n.]., 1939. United States.
Work Projects Administration (Calif.) Report on Progress of the Works Program in San Francisco. January, 1938. Works Progress Administration / William Mooser, Jr., branch manager. [San Francisco? 1938]
The Architect and Engineer. September 1937.
Information about waiting room submitted by James Clifford.
We welcome contributions of additional information on any New Deal project site.
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