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The National Air Transport (later United Air Lines) Curtiss Carrier Pigeon corporation plane, christened Miss Chicago, is shown taking off with a load of mail that would eventually get to Dallas, Texas during the opening ceremonies of the city's new air field, Chicago Municipal Airport, at 63rd Street and Cicero Avenue in Chicago on May 8, 1926. City leaders hailed the event as opening a new chapter in Chicago's development.
The National Air Transport (later United Air Lines) Curtiss Carrier Pigeon corporation plane, christened Miss Chicago, is shown taking off with a load of mail that would eventually get to Dallas, Texas during the opening ceremonies of the city’s new air field, Chicago Municipal Airport, at 63rd Street and Cicero Avenue in Chicago on May 8, 1926. City leaders hailed the event as opening a new chapter in Chicago’s development.
An aerial view of Municipal Airport in 1928.
An aerial view of Municipal Airport in 1928.
Loading and unloading of a NAT U.S. Mail Express plane at Municipal Airport in an undated photo.
Loading and unloading of a NAT U.S. Mail Express plane at Municipal Airport in an undated photo.
Flag man Art Johnsen at Municipal Airport in 1928.
Flag man Art Johnsen at Municipal Airport in 1928.
Mayor William Hale Thompson with a National Air Transport plane at Chicago Municipal Airport during it’s dedication and naming on Dec. 12, 1927. The date of the dedication coincided with Mayor Thompson’s conference on air travel, held at the Hotel Sherman in Chicago. “If you desire progress for your cities, build airports,” Mayor William Hale Thompson said to the visiting mayors and delegates from thirty states who attended the airport conference here yesterday,” reported the Tribune. Chicago Municipal Airport, at Cicero Avenue and 63rd Street would be renamed Midway International Airport in 1949.
Motorcycle policemen escort the plane of Col. Charles Lindbergh as he taxied up to a hanger at Chicago Municipal Airport at 63rd Street and Cicero Avenue after Lindbergh flew over downtown Chicago in August 1927.
Motorcycle policemen escort the plane of Col. Charles Lindbergh as he taxied up to a hanger at Chicago Municipal Airport at 63rd Street and Cicero Avenue after Lindbergh flew over downtown Chicago in August 1927.
Ed Knapp and C. W. Norris at Municipal Airport in 1927.
Ed Knapp and C. W. Norris at Municipal Airport in 1927.
An aerial view of Municipal Airport in 1930.
An aerial view of Municipal Airport in 1930.
Chicago's Municipal Airport is dedicated and given the first Illinois airport license issued. An air view of the grounds at 63rd Street and Cicero Avenue show the new $100,000 union terminal building and other improvements in which $774,000 had been invested. Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak spoke and was presented with the state license by Maj. Reed G. Landis, chairman of the state aeronautics commission on Nov. 15, 1931.
Chicago’s Municipal Airport is dedicated and given the first Illinois airport license issued. An air view of the grounds at 63rd Street and Cicero Avenue show the new $100,000 union terminal building and other improvements in which $774,000 had been invested. Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak spoke and was presented with the state license by Maj. Reed G. Landis, chairman of the state aeronautics commission on Nov. 15, 1931.
The Municipal Airport building in 1931. In November 1931, a $100,000 building at Chicago Municipal Airport was formally dedicated to be used by all the airlines. The opening was followed by a luncheon at the Palmer House.
The Municipal Airport building in 1931. In November 1931, a $100,000 building at Chicago Municipal Airport was formally dedicated to be used by all the airlines. The opening was followed by a luncheon at the Palmer House.
Flood lights and a wind cone at Municipal Airport in Chicago in an undated photo.
Flood lights and a wind cone at Municipal Airport in Chicago in an undated photo.
Crowds gathered at Chicago Municipal Airport in July 1932 for Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt who flew to Chicago to personally accept the Democratic nomination for president. At left is the plane in which the Democratic nominee made the trip from Albany, New York.
Crowds gathered at Chicago Municipal Airport in July 1932 for Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt who flew to Chicago to personally accept the Democratic nomination for president. At left is the plane in which the Democratic nominee made the trip from Albany, New York.
A plane piloted by Joe Jacobson rounded a pylon during the American Air Races held at Chicago Municipal Airport in July 1933. Jacobson won a trophy.
A plane piloted by Joe Jacobson rounded a pylon during the American Air Races held at Chicago Municipal Airport in July 1933. Jacobson won a trophy.
More than 50,000 people gathered at Chicago Municipal Airport for the three-day American Air Races in July 1933. Famous stunt pilot Ernst Udet, who had been a German flying ace in World War I, flew during the 1933 air races. Udet later was a general for Hitler's aerial warfare branch.
More than 50,000 people gathered at Chicago Municipal Airport for the three-day American Air Races in July 1933. Famous stunt pilot Ernst Udet, who had been a German flying ace in World War I, flew during the 1933 air races. Udet later was a general for Hitler’s aerial warfare branch.
An aerial view of the Chicago Municipal Airport shows the old and new field bisected by railroad tracks. A passenger aboard a TWA Skyclub plane noticed a snail-like image crossing the center of the field. Upon landing, he learned that it was a freight train. Bewildered, the passenger left the depot wondering whether Chicago will have one useful airport or two useless ones.
An aerial view of the Chicago Municipal Airport shows the old and new field bisected by railroad tracks. A passenger aboard a TWA Skyclub plane noticed a snail-like image crossing the center of the field. Upon landing, he learned that it was a freight train. Bewildered, the passenger left the depot wondering whether Chicago will have one useful airport or two useless ones.
A crowd gathers around Chicago Mayor Edward Kelly (not visible) as he drives a golden spike to complete the new railroad tracks on May 1, 1941, which made it possible for Chicago Municipal Airport to expand.
A crowd gathers around Chicago Mayor Edward Kelly (not visible) as he drives a golden spike to complete the new railroad tracks on May 1, 1941, which made it possible for Chicago Municipal Airport to expand.
The Chicago Municipal Airport, left, as it was on September 3, 1937, and the proposed improvements, right, include the removal of the railroad track that bisected the airfield. The railroad was finally redirected in 1941.
The Chicago Municipal Airport, left, as it was on September 3, 1937, and the proposed improvements, right, include the removal of the railroad track that bisected the airfield. The railroad was finally redirected in 1941.
An undated aerial photo of Chicago Municipal Airport.
An undated aerial photo of Chicago Municipal Airport.
After years of planning, litigation, and general lack of action, work began on Aug. 13, 1940, to lay tracks north of the Municipal Airport, tracks which would enable the removal of the railroad that bisected the airport. Viewing the initial work are Stewardesses Louise Mack, from left, and Phyllis Alldredge of American Airlines, a neighbor Vincent Dellacroce, the contracting engineer Charles Kulp, and assistant engineer George Amory.
After years of planning, litigation, and general lack of action, work began on Aug. 13, 1940, to lay tracks north of the Municipal Airport, tracks which would enable the removal of the railroad that bisected the airport. Viewing the initial work are Stewardesses Louise Mack, from left, and Phyllis Alldredge of American Airlines, a neighbor Vincent Dellacroce, the contracting engineer Charles Kulp, and assistant engineer George Amory.
George Niles, left, a clerk, and Harry Fischer, the control tower operator, are at work in the tower at Municipal Airport on Dec. 5, 1940.
George Niles, left, a clerk, and Harry Fischer, the control tower operator, are at work in the tower at Municipal Airport on Dec. 5, 1940.
“Railbirds” watch the air show during air races held at Chicago Municipal Airport in June 1941.
Chicago Mayor Edward J. Kelly, center with hat in hand, and a group of prominent officials went up in a UAL plane during a ceremony at Chicago Midway Airport in June 1941.
Chicago Mayor Edward J. Kelly, center with hat in hand, and a group of prominent officials went up in a UAL plane during a ceremony at Chicago Midway Airport in June 1941.
The world's largest commercial hanger was built in 1946 at Chicago Municipal Airport. On Nov. 14, 1946, construction workers prepared to pour concrete for the structure that would eventually house American Airlines planes.
The world’s largest commercial hanger was built in 1946 at Chicago Municipal Airport. On Nov. 14, 1946, construction workers prepared to pour concrete for the structure that would eventually house American Airlines planes.
On Jan. 12, 1942, the Illinois Reserve Militia carried rifles with ammunition to guard Chicago's Midway Airport during World War II.
On Jan. 12, 1942, the Illinois Reserve Militia carried rifles with ammunition to guard Chicago’s Midway Airport during World War II.
Nathan Hale Elementary School was originally less than 100 yards from two take-off runways at Chicago Municipal Airport, Jan. 13, 1948. Eventually, planes were not allowed to use the runways while school was in session.
Nathan Hale Elementary School was originally less than 100 yards from two take-off runways at Chicago Municipal Airport, Jan. 13, 1948. Eventually, planes were not allowed to use the runways while school was in session.
The preview opening of The Cloud Room on March 18, 1948, a new restaurant operated by Marshall Fields & Co. at Chicago Municipal Airport.
The preview opening of The Cloud Room on March 18, 1948, a new restaurant operated by Marshall Fields & Co. at Chicago Municipal Airport.
The coffee shop at Chicago Midway Airport, run by Marshall Fields & Co., was decorated with a modern color scheme of aqua, blue and yellow on Feb. 19, 1949. The airport is said to have had the finest eating facilities of any airport in the country.
The coffee shop at Chicago Midway Airport, run by Marshall Fields & Co., was decorated with a modern color scheme of aqua, blue and yellow on Feb. 19, 1949. The airport is said to have had the finest eating facilities of any airport in the country.
A bird's-eye view of Trans World Airlines' new $2.5 million dollar hanger, recently completed at Chicago's Midway Airport. The hanger was officially dedicated on Jan. 23, 1953. The double-span structure, which took nearly a year to build, can house four 4-engine Lockheed Constellations or six twin-engine Martin planes.
A bird’s-eye view of Trans World Airlines’ new $2.5 million dollar hanger, recently completed at Chicago’s Midway Airport. The hanger was officially dedicated on Jan. 23, 1953. The double-span structure, which took nearly a year to build, can house four 4-engine Lockheed Constellations or six twin-engine Martin planes.
Fifty Mexican men board a U.S. Border Patrol plane on Sept. 21, 1954, as they are deported from Midway Airport. The group was flown to Brownsville, TX. where they were put on a boat for Veracruz, Mexico.
Fifty Mexican men board a U.S. Border Patrol plane on Sept. 21, 1954, as they are deported from Midway Airport. The group was flown to Brownsville, TX. where they were put on a boat for Veracruz, Mexico.
Fred Frabin, Monarch Airlines supervisor, looks at tornado damage to the airlines hanger at Midway Airport on May 9, 1964. Part of the roof of the hanger was blown against a truck, knocking it over.
Fred Frabin, Monarch Airlines supervisor, looks at tornado damage to the airlines hanger at Midway Airport on May 9, 1964. Part of the roof of the hanger was blown against a truck, knocking it over.
A United Air Lines hostess displays a new television flight board monitor at Midway Airport on Nov. 7, 1968.
A United Air Lines hostess displays a new television flight board monitor at Midway Airport on Nov. 7, 1968.
Fans of the Beatles await their arrival at Midway Airport in September 1964.
Fans of the Beatles await their arrival at Midway Airport in September 1964.
Teen fans of the Beatles await their arrival to Chicago Midway Airport on Sept. 5, 1964.
Teen fans of the Beatles await their arrival to Chicago Midway Airport on Sept. 5, 1964.