1940 Air Terminal Museum facts for kids
The 1940 Air Terminal Museum
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| Established | 1940 |
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| Location | Houston, Texas, United States, at William P. Hobby Airport |
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Houston Municipal Airport Terminal
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| Architect | Joseph Finger |
| NRHP reference No. | 100003488 |
| Added to NRHP | March 6, 2019 |
The 1940 Air Terminal Museum is a cool place in Houston, Texas, United States. It's located right at William P. Hobby Airport. This museum is special because its collections are inside the original airport building. This building was the very first one built just for passengers flying in and out of Houston. It has a unique art deco style.
The museum shows off many items about Houston's history with airplanes and flying. It's run by a group called the Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society (HAHS). This group is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving aviation history.
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History of the Airport Terminal
The museum is housed in a building that was once the main terminal for Houston Municipal Airport. It was built in 1940 using money from the Public Works Administration (PWA). The PWA was a government program that created jobs during the Great Depression.
This terminal building is a rare example of "streamline moderne" architecture. This style is a type of art deco that looks sleek and modern, like a fast train or airplane. In the 1940s, air travel was very fancy. People dressed up to fly on big propeller planes like the Douglas DC-3.
The famous architect Joseph Finger designed the terminal. He also designed Houston's City Hall. The terminal was built to help Houston handle more air traffic. It was the only commercial airport terminal in Houston until 1954. After that, different businesses used the building until 1978.
In 1978, the airport manager wanted to tear down the old terminal. He thought it would make more space for planes. But many people who loved history and airplanes stepped in to save it. Because of them, the building was not demolished. However, it stayed empty for almost 20 years.
Bringing the Terminal Back to Life
The city of Houston helped make the outside of the building stable. Then, a group called the Houston Aviation Alliance worked to save the terminal. In 1998, the Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society (HAHS) was formed. Their main goal was to save this important building.
HAHS knew that fixing the building would take a lot of money and time. They planned to restore it in different stages. In late 2003, they started by cleaning up the north wing of the terminal. This process removed old materials and prepared the building for restoration.
The North Wing of the Air Terminal opened to the public in February 2004. This was the first part of the museum to open. It held the museum's collection and a gift shop. It also served as the main office while they raised money for the rest of the building.
The rest of the building was cleaned up by May 2008. The main hall (called the atrium) and the upper level (mezzanine) were rebuilt by February 2009. The museum plans to restore the entire first floor to its original look when they have enough money. Eventually, they hope to use all the floors of the terminal building.
The 1940 Air Terminal Museum has received special recognition. The American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA) named it a Historic Aerospace Site. This means it's an important place in aviation history. In February 2010, HAHS received a "Good Brick Award" for their excellent work in preserving the building. The Houston Press newspaper even called the terminal the "Best Piece of Aviation History" in 2008.
In 2008, HAHS also got permission to use the oldest hangar at Hobby Airport. This hangar was built in 1929 and was once used by Eastern Airlines. HAHS uses this hangar to show off bigger items from their collection. These include three flight simulators and some real aircraft. Their aircraft collection includes a 1942 Lockheed Lodestar business plane and an S-58 Sikorsky Helicopter.
How the Museum Gets Funding
The 1940 Air Terminal Museum gets its money from different places. They receive grants from many private and public groups. They also get donations from individuals. The museum has a "Members' Program" too. Members get special access to some events. You can also rent the museum and its buildings for private parties or events.
HAHS holds several fun events to raise money:
- Wings and Wheels: On the third Saturday of every month, the museum displays cool airplanes and cars.
- Pops & Props Gala: This is a yearly dinner and dance event to raise funds.
- Win-A-Plane Raffle: Each year, they raffle off a beautifully restored old airplane.
- Hobby Fest: This is a big annual "Wings and Wheels" event. It includes special guests, rides, and prizes.
About the Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society
The 1940 Air Terminal Museum is a special project of the Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society (HAHS). This group is a non-profit organization in Texas. Their mission is to learn about, share, and protect the history of flying in Houston and southeast Texas.
The society was started in 1998 by people who loved aviation, architecture, and history. Members come from all different backgrounds. They include students, retired people, architects, lawyers, teachers, engineers, and even commercial pilots.
The Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. This means they are a charity and donations to them can be tax-deductible. They get money from grants, donations from companies and people, and from things like museum memberships and gift shop sales.
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