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Houston
Air Teminal Museum
TE photo, August 2006 |
| In
the late 20s East Texas lumber and railroad tycoon W. T. Carter bought
an airfield in SE Houston. As aviation
switched from biplanes to monoplanes and passenger flight looked as
though it was here to stay, the city of Houston
decided that it needed an airfield for civilian use. Carter sold the
land to the city in 1937 and Joseph Finger, who had just finished
designing the Houston City Hall (1939) took on the job of designing
the Municipal Airport Terminal which was finished in 1940. |
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Houston Air
Teminal Museum during opening ceremonies in 1999
Photo
Courtesy 1940 Air Terminal Mueseum
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Trans-Texas
Airways' "Cowgirls of the Air"
Photo Courtesy 1940 Air Terminal Museum
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Air
Teminal Hanger just south of the Museum on Travelaire
TE photo, September 2006 |
| The
AIA Architectural Guide to Houston states that the project was completed
"with assistance by the Public Works Administration." The AIA Guide
(an essential volume for anyone interested in Houston History) includes
the nearby aircraft hanger in its description of the property. |
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Houston Air
Teminal aerial shortly after it had additions removed
Photo Courtesy 1940 Air Terminal Museum
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| Houston's
Department of Aviation demolished buildings that had been "tacked
on" to the original terminal building in 1988, bringing it back to
it's 1940 appearance. The building stopped activities when it was
replaced by the present William Hobby Terminal on Broadway and Airport
Blvd. in 1954. |
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Architectural
Detail
TE photo, September 2006
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Architectural
Detail of a Autogyro
TE photo, September 2006 |
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Houston Air
Teminal Museum Detail
TE photo, September 2006
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| Today
the terminal building houses the 1940 Air Terminal Museum. The building
is being restored as a project of the Houston Aeronautical Heritage
Society. For hours of operation, please visit their site at www.1940AirTerminal.org
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Directional
sign on Telephone Road south of Airport
TE photo, September 2006 |
Forum
Subject:
Houston's 1940 Air Terminal
When I was with a paper manufacturer, we flew into the airport there
a lot. I remember one day vividly. When the paper company (Southland
Paper Mills) was acquired by St. Regis Paper Company of New York,
Southland's pilots flew the company plane into Houston
to turn it over to St. Regis. The plane's landing gear collapsed
and skidded down the runway. No injuries, except to the pilots'
pride. St. Regis never forgave them for giving them a wrecked plane
on the last day of Southland's existence.
Best wishes, and thanks for everything you're doing for small towns
in Texas. - Bob Bowman, Lufkin, Texas, October 07, 2006
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