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Since 1925, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport has provided innovations in aviation for the United States and has served as a catalyst for economic growth in Cleveland and throughout Northeast Ohio. In commemoration of our 80th anniversary, we share with you this piece of our history.
We are proud of our heritage as the first municipal airport in the United States, the dedicated customer service we continue to provide, and our ongoing commitment to the community. As we take a moment to reflect on the airport's rich history of many "firsts", we also reaffirm our commitment to continue our quest for innovation.
Sincerely, |
Frank G. Jackson
Mayor |
Ricky D. Smith
Director of Cleveland Airport System |
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1925 - Opening Day: On July 1, 1925, Cleveland Municipal Airport - the first in the United States - opened amid great fanfare when more than 100,000 people turned out to enjoy the event, which included the first mail flight and a "flying circus" of planes with lit torches on their wings. |
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1929 - First Cleveland Air Races: Williams Hopkins and Amelia Earhart pose together at the first-ever national air races held in Cleveland in 1929. The show continues to be a favorite Cleveland pastime held every Labor Day weekend at Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport. In honor of William Hopkins, the airport name was changed to Cleveland Hopkins Airport in 1951. |
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1930 - Air Traffic Control: In 1930, the first radio-equipped control tower in the United States began operating at Cleveland Municipal Airport. By 1932, almost all airline aircraft were being equipped for radio-telephone communication, and by 1935 approximately 20 radio control towers were operating in the United States. |
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1930 - First Air Traffic Control Tower: In 1930, Cleveland Municipal Airport became the first airport in the world to have an air traffic control tower. Invented and installed by Clevelander Claude King, this air traffic control tower included 360-degree line of sight, two-way radio communication and regular updates, including weather reports that revolutionized airport traffic systems worldwide. |
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1930 - First Airfield Lighting System: In 1930, the nation's first airfield lighting system was invented by Claude King. The 3-million-candle-power beacon was designed to identify the airfield for aviators, in addition to a 1 1/2-billion-candle-power floodlight to illuminate the field. |
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1956 - Concourse B: In 1956, a new terminal, now known as Concourse B, opened at Cleveland Hopkins Airport incorporating what was then the most modern technology. It was during the 1950s that the first electric flight-information board was unveiled in Cleveland, allowing passengers to track up to 32 flights at the same time. |
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1966 - Observation Deck: Visitors to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport could head to the outdoor observation desk for a bird's-eye vantage point of the airfield, where they could hear the howl of a taxiing or engaging jet from just one hundred feet away. |
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1968 - Cleveland Transit System: In 1968, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport became the first airport in the United States to have direct rail transportation access from the terminal to downtown. Since then, direct airport links have been copied by other American and foreign airports. |