1940 Air Terminal Museum
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The 1940 Air Terminal Museum is a museum located in Houston, Texas, United States at William P. Hobby Airport. Collections are housed in the original art deco building which served as the first terminal for passenger flight in Houston. The museum currently exhibits several collections focusing on Houston's commercial aviation history and is operated by the Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society (HAHS), a recognized Texas 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
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[edit] History
The museum is housed in the Houston Municipal Airport Terminal, an airport terminal that was constructed in 1940. The terminal building is an example of classic art deco airport architecture from the 1940s. The terminal served Houston during the years when air travelers dressed in their finest and embarked for exotic destinations aboard roaring propliners like the Douglas DC-3 and the Lockheed Constellation. Designed by architect Joseph Finger (who also designed Houston's City Hall), the terminal was built to meet Houston's growing role as a center for air commerce in the 1930s. The terminal served as the primary commercial air terminal for Houston until 1954, and was used by various tenants until 1978. The terminal was then unoccupied for nearly 30 years.
[edit] Restoration and modern use
In 1998, a non profit organization, the Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society (HAHS), was formed primarily to save the threatened terminal building. HAHS recognized that funding and renovation must be completed in phases, and began a plan to restore the entire building. In later 2003 HAHS contract labor completed the asbestos and lead abatement of the north wing of the terminal. The abatement process stripped the original plaster from the interior walls, leaving the non-loadbearing brick walls of the terminal intact.
The North Wing of the Air Terminal was opened to the public in 2004 as the first phase of the museum. The restored North Wing of the terminal houses the museum's rapidly growing collection and gift shop and serves as the museum's base of operations while completing fundraising and restoration of the rest of the building.
The rest of the building completed asbestos abatement in May 2008 and is currently undergoing restoration. Once completed, the terminal’s atrium will be restored to its original grandeur. The museum will spread out and occupy the entire first floor of the terminal building.
In 2008, HAHS was granted a license to the oldest hangar on Hobby Airport's grounds, a 1929 Great Silver Fleet Maintenance Hangar. The organization will use this hangar to display larger exhibits from the collection, such as two simulators, and HAHS's aircraft collection, which includes a beautiful 1943 Lockheed Lodestar executive businessliner, an S-58 Sikorsky Helicopter that was outfitted for civilian heavy lifting, and the year's current raffle plane.
[edit] Funding and special events
The 1940 Air Terminal Museum receives funding through grants from many private and public foundations, as well as individual donors. The museum also operates a Member's Program, which allows special access to some functions for members. The museum and its buildings are also available for private functions.
HAHS currently benefits from several fundraisers:
- Wings and Wheels- Every third Saturday of the month, the 1940 Air Terminal Museum has static displays of aircraft and cars.
- Pops & Props Gala- an annual fundraising dinner and dance.
- Win-A-Plane Raffle- an annual raffle for a beautifully restored vintage plane. Currently the raffle plane is a 1958 Cessna 172.
- Hobby Fest- the large, annual Wings and Wheels with several special guests, rides, and prizes.
[edit] The Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society
The 1940 Air Terminal Museum is the project of the Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society. The Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society is a Texas non-profit corporation founded to research, promote and preserve the aeronautical heritage of Houston and southeast Texas. The society was founded in 1998 by a group of aviation, architecture and history enthusiasts. The society includes persons from all walks of life, including students and retirees, architects and attorneys, educators and engineers, community leaders and commercial pilots.
The Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society is recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization by the Internal Revenue Service. The Society is funded through private and public grants, corporate and personal contributions and net proceeds from revenue generating endeavors such as museum memberships and gift shop sales.
[edit] External links
- The 1940 Air Terminal Museum at William P. Hobby Airport
- Houston Airport System — William P. Hobby Airport
- Houston 1940 Air Terminal Museum — pictures on Flickr
Coordinates: 29°38′49″N 95°17′10″W / 29.64694°N 95.28611°W
