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Houston Airport System
July 19, 2006
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Regular fundraisers hope to reconstruct the 1940 Terminal Air Museum at Hobby.
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Through a series of fundraising events the Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society is hoping to raise enough money to restore the old terminal and tower at Hobby Airport.
The society, which was founded by a diverse group of aviation, architecture and history enthusiasts in 1998, has taken on the project of rehabilitating the circa 1940's terminal at Houston’s second-largest airport for the purpose of conserving the few-remaining such structures in the country.
“It’s very important that we salvage these historical treasures,” said Allen Moore, Wings and Wheels event coordinator. “They are an essential part of our history and represent the spirit of Houston.” |
At this weekend’s event - part of a series of fundraising events held each month by the society and known as Wings and Wheels - the theme was a tribute to the television classic Sky King. Sky King was a program from the early days of television that centered on a cowboy who used an airplane to fight crooks and other villains.
Those in attendance remembered the show well, but more importantly remembered the vitality of the now-1940 Air Terminal Museum at Hobby Airport. In its hay-day this facility was a state-of-the-art airport that made the Houston community proud.
“I remember coming through this airport as a child,” said Margaret Johansen, an attendee at the fundraising event. “I can’t wait to see it bustling with business again.”
The first phase of rehabilitation to the facility included the initial restoration of the north wing of the Houston Municipal Air Terminal, nomination of the terminal building for the National Register of Historic Places as well as state and local historic designation.
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 museum's growing aircraft collection includes a beautiful 1943 Lockheed Lodestar executive businessliner.
The first phase of restoration was completed in 2003. The north wing of the 1940 Air Terminal Museum opened to the public on January 9, 2004
Plans for the next phase of restoration include a reconstruction of the terminal area, repairs to the tower and the inauguration of an eatery with a viewing deck at the top of the tower. The total cost of this project has not yet been determined.
The Wings and Wheels fundraiser events for this project take place every third Saturday of the month at the 1940 Air Terminal Museum.
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