Speedway Field facts for kids

Map showing the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport with the original boundaries of the Twin Cities Speedway race track/Speedway Field that preceded it

Speedway Field was the first name for the land that later became Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Today, this airport is one of the busiest in the United States. It used to be the main hub for Northwest Airlines and is now a major hub for Delta Air Lines, which took over Northwest.

How Speedway Field Started

The idea for Speedway Field began on December 11, 1919. At that time, a military leader called the Adjutant General suggested something important. He told community groups in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, both cities in Minnesota, that they should buy a special piece of land. This land was once a race track called the Twin City Motor Speedway, but it had gone out of business. The General thought it would be a perfect spot for a new airfield.

The First Flights

The land was about 160 acres (0.65 square kilometers) in size. It was located inside the concrete oval of the old race track. Airplanes first started using this area in 1920. People called it "Speedway Field" or sometimes "Snelling Field."

On July 10, 1923, the airfield was officially named Wold-Chamberlain Field. This name honored two brave pilots from World War I, Ernest Groves Wold and Cyrus Foss Chamberlain.

Getting Around the Airfield

To get into the airfield, which was inside the race track oval, people originally had to use tunnels. These tunnels went under the race track itself. The airfield had specific landing strips for planes. One strip went from west to southeast and was 2,700 feet long. Another strip went from east to west and was 2,300 feet long.

Early Buildings at the Airfield

In 1921, the Minnesota Legislature provided about $45,000 to build hangars. These were shelters for airplanes belonging to the National Guard Observation Squadron. The very first hangar for airmail planes was built in 1920. It was 80 feet by 90 feet in size. Northwest Airlines helped pay for it with $15,000.

Later, in 1928, the U.S. Navy also built a hangar for their squadron. On June 1, 1928, the Minneapolis Park Board took control of the airfield. By then, Speedway Field had several buildings. There was the airmail hangar, three hangars for the National Guard, one Navy hangar, and one other small hangar.

Images for kids

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  Map showing Speedway Field and locations of runways and structures