Randolph Field Historic District facts for kids
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Randolph Field Historic District
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The Base Administration Building, nicknamed the "Taj Mahal", in 1942
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 Location in Texas
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | San Antonio, Texas, USA |
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| Area | 405 acres (1.64 km2) |
| Built | 1931 |
| Architect | multiple |
| Architectural style | Mission Revival-Spanish Colonial Revival-Streamline Moderne |
| MPS | Randolph Air Force Base MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000753 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 8, 1996 |
| Designated NHLD | August 7, 2001 |
The Randolph Field Historic District is a special place located within Randolph Air Force Base near San Antonio, Texas, USA. It's known as a National Historic Landmark District because of its unique design and history. This area was carefully planned using ideas from the Garden city movement, which focuses on creating green, organized communities. It also features beautiful buildings in the Mission Revival and Art Deco styles.
Built between 1929 and 1931, Randolph Field was the very first permanent place in the United States where military pilots were trained. It served the United States Army Air Corps and later the United States Air Force. Because of its importance, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996 and became a National Historic Landmark in 2001.
Contents
Why Was Randolph Field Built?
The Need for Pilot Training
After World War I, the United States military needed a better way to train its pilots. The United States Army Air Service had helped during the war, but many of its training sites were temporary. For several years in the 1920s, pilots trained at different places across the country. There was a big discussion about how the air force should fit into the United States Army.
Finding the Perfect Location
In 1926, the War Department decided it was time to create one main place for all pilot training. They looked for the best spot and chose the Randolph site in 1927. This area is northeast of San Antonio, Texas. Construction started in 1928, and most of the base was finished by the end of 1931.
How Was Randolph Field Designed?
A Circular and Green Layout
The early ideas for Randolph Field included a central circular area. The final design was created by George B. Ford. He combined the circular idea with principles from the Garden city movement. This meant the circular part of the base held homes for the people living there. The parts of the base used for flying and operations were located outside this circle.
Smart Design for Airplanes
The design also helped solve problems for the army. They wanted to avoid long distances for planes to taxi on the ground. Long taxiways meant more dust, which could damage the aircraft and cost more to fix. So, the hangars (where planes are kept) were placed in rows right next to the two runways. The runways themselves were angled to make the most of the natural winds.
The Famous "Taj Mahal" Building
A very noticeable building in the design is the Administration Building. People often call it the "Taj Mahal" because of its grand look. You see it as you enter the base. It has a tall tower, about 170-foot (52 m) high, which cleverly hides the base's water tower inside.
What Do the Buildings Look Like?
Most of the homes and other buildings on the base are built in the Mission Revival style. This style often features stucco walls, red tile roofs, and arched doorways, similar to old Spanish missions.
The way these buildings are arranged in circular bands makes the base look different from many other military bases. Each building also has its own small differences, like wings placed on different sides or stucco painted in slightly different colors.
The Randolph Field Historic District covers about 405-acre (1.64 km2). It includes 350 important buildings, sites, and structures. These buildings show off the Mission Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival, and Streamline Moderne styles.
