Item Info
Historic Street Address: Philadelphia International Airport
Media Type: Glass Plate Negatives
Source: Print and Picture Collection
Notes:
Image taken by Philadelphia Evening Bulletin photographer Charles T. Higgins
This December 1935 image shows a group of people gathered at an intersection at Philadelphia Municipal Airport, located in southwest Philadelphia, on land which ultimately became Philadelphia International Airport.
In 1925, the City provided a 125-acre area, referred to as Philadelphia Municipal Airport, for use as an aviation training site for the Pennsylvania National Guard. In 1930, Hog Island, an adjoining 1000-acre site, was purchased to expand the airport for commercial flights. However, the Great Depression delayed construction of a terminal building and landing field until 1937, and the official opening of Philadelphia Municipal Airport was in 1940. In 1945, when transatlantic service began at the airport, it was renamed Philadelphia International Airport.
Notes on the negative's envelope read: "Municipal Airport, Phila.; Dec. 1935"
Creation Year: 1935
Geocode Latitude: Geocode Longitude:-75.242423
Geocode Latitude:39.874396
Creator Name: Higgins, Charles - Photographer