Wheat, barley and lima beans once grew where Los Angeles International Airport stands today. Back in the 1920s it was part of Southern California's prosperous ranching business. The city's energetic Chamber of Commerce promoted the idea of building a municipal airport on the land even though flying was still a wing and a prayer activity. There was no federal money for airport investment, but the city fathers decided it was a risk worth taking.
In 1928 they chose Mines Field from a list of 27 possible sites. The name came from real estate agent William W. Mines who represented the ranching interests and he claimed his own bit of history when he clinched the deal. For years Angelinos refused to call their airport anything else. The city leased 640 acres for ten years and aviation got an immediate boost when America's National Air Races brought the crowds flocking to Mines Field to see pilots like the legendary Charles Lindbergh.
Los Angeles Municipal Airport was officialy dedicated in 1930 when the lease was extended to 50 years. But there were hard times ahead as the Stock Market crash frightened off investors and the major airlines stayed away. Los Angeles was saved by the arrival of companies like Douglas, Northrop and North American who established the area as an aircraft manufacturing center.
As the Depression Years began to subside the airlines turned to Los Angeles as their favored base on the understanding that improvements would be made. For that funds were needed but they proved difficult to raise while the airfield was on lease. In 1937 the city took another great leap of faith and became full owners.
Wartime priorities suspended development from 1943 to 1945 but at the end of hostilities Southern California and the area around LA had, through military demands, become the hub of America's aircraft industry. The airport managment had already laid its post-war plans and in 1946, with all five major airlines installed, commercial operations began.
Five years later, as world routes were developed, Los Angeles added 'International' to its title and in 1952 it made its first profit. A new terminal was built, the forerunner of huge development as the jet age arrived and the ten million passenger mark was reached in 1965. Since then expansion projects have come thick and fast with a $700 million improvement program, started in 1981, providing two new terminals and a $3.5 million cargo center.
The city's flair for attracting world events - the Olympic Games 1984, the World Soccer Cup 1994 - has also played its part in boosting the growth of an airport which currently ranks number four in the international league. History has not been overlooked either. Hangar Number One, the first building ever constructed at Los Angeles Airport in 1929, is still in use and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The bean field has reaped a rich harvest.
