Historic terminal reopens at Long Beach Airport after extensive renovations

Airports

Terrance Ward Operations Liaison Officer | Official Website

By Sky Industry News

Jul 4, 2024

Long Beach, CA – Later this month, Long Beach Airport (LGB) will celebrate the reopening of its Historic Terminal building, which has been closed for more than a year for extensive renovations. The $17.8 million project, part of the $125 million Phase II – Terminal Area Improvements Program, includes a seismic retrofit and meticulous restoration of the building’s classic 1941 design elements.

“Long Beach Airport’s Historic Terminal is one of the City's most beloved architectural treasures, and I’m proud of the careful work that has been done to preserve its history and make improvements that will ensure it’s enjoyed for generations to come,” said Mayor Rex Richardson.

The Historic Terminal building, designed by renowned architects William Horace Austin and Kenneth Smith Wing, was originally scheduled to open on Dec. 8, 1941; however, the attack on Pearl Harbor the day before delayed those plans and the airport eventually formally opened on April 25, 1942. Now, as Long Beach Airport celebrates its 100th anniversary, the reopening of the Historic Landmark allows the community to celebrate in a way that was not possible in wartime.

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LGB is hosting a public open house of the Streamline Moderne-style building from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 27. Attendees will be among the first to see the Historic Terminal’s return to its former glory while enjoying history tours, music, children's activities, giveaways and light refreshments. Three hours of free parking is available in Parking Structure B.

“The elegance of the Historic Terminal's architecture and its mosaic masterpiece have stood the test of time,” said Fifth District Councilwoman Megan Kerr. “Our airport is an important piece of the City’s economic, historic and cultural contribution to the region.”

“This renovation project restores many of the classic building features that haven’t been seen by the public in years,” said Fourth District Councilman Daryl Supernaw. “I’m delighted that this icon of Long Beach architecture will continue to be part of daily operations at the airport, to be enjoyed by travelers for decades to come.”

Highlights of the project include: seismic retrofits; restoration of the iconic west entrance which has been closed for decades; new west bay windows; preservation of the building’s iconic wall clock and original signage; uncovering of Grace Clements' full mosaic masterwork; updated restrooms; modernized administrative offices; conversion of former ticketing area into space for rental car services; and other improvements.

“As we celebrate a century of service, the renovation of our Historic Terminal is a testament to our commitment to preserving our rich aviation history while also maintaining modern, first-class standards,” said Airport Director Cynthia Guidry. “The Historic Terminal is the crown jewel of Long Beach Airport campus and I’m so excited to see travelers explore this beautifully restored space.”

Situated centrally between Los Angeles and Orange counties, Long Beach Airport provides a distinctively stress-free journey and first-class customer experience. The oldest municipal airport in California was recently named among Condé Nast Traveler magazine's Top Ten airports in the country for a second consecutive year. It currently offers nonstop service to 24 destinations around the nation—more than at any time in LGB’s 100-year history.

About Long Beach

Long Beach is nestled along Southern California's coast with approximately 466,000 residents. As an award-winning full-service charter city offering metropolitan amenities while maintaining diverse neighborhoods' culture and community spirit. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, it serves as both tourist attraction and business hub housing landmarks like Queen Mary ship or Aquarium Pacific alongside Long Beach Convention Center & world-class Port facilities.

For more information about Long Beach visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social media platforms such as Facebook X Instagram YouTube or get updates regarding LGB via lgb.org & @LGBAirport handles across these networks.