Holman Field Administration Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Holman Field Administration Building
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The Holman Field Administration Building from the south
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 644 Bayfield Street Saint Paul, Minnesota |
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| Built | 1939 |
| Architect | Clarence Wigington |
| Architectural style | Moderne |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001004 |
| Added to NRHP | August 15, 1991 |
The Holman Field Administration Building is a cool building in Saint Paul. It's made of a special stone called Kasota limestone. A famous architect named Clarence Wigington designed it. The building was finished in 1939. People working for the WPA built it. The WPA was a government program. It helped many people find jobs during a tough time in history.
This building is the main control center for the St. Paul Downtown Airport. The airport is named after Charles W. Holman. He was a pilot who won a big air speed race in 1930. The airport itself was built on a former lake. Workers filled the lake with dirt and sand. This material came from the nearby Mississippi River. Sometimes, the river still floods the airport area. Across the river, in Indian Mounds Park, you can see an old airway beacon. This beacon used to guide airplanes at night.
World War II Efforts
During World War II, this airport was very important. A company called Northwest Airlines had many workers here. Up to 5,000 people worked at the site. They helped get new B-24 Liberator bombers ready for war. Some of these planes got a secret new tool. It was a special radar system. This radar helped a lot during the war in Europe. It was a very valuable tool for the pilots.
Visiting Today
Today, you can still visit the building. There is a restaurant inside that is open to everyone. From the restaurant, you can watch the airplanes. It's a great spot to see the airport in action.
Images for kids
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The building's streetside façade
