Long Beach Airport’s Historic Terminal Reopens Following Major Renovation, Restoration Effort

• Extra Large
• Large
• Normal
• Small

PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - Long Beach Airport (LGB) today celebrated the reopening of its Historic Terminal building, which has been closed for more than a year for a seismic retrofit and meticulous restoration of the building's classic 1941 design elements.

"Today, we mark the revival of one of Long Beach's most cherished landmarks," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "This project-which uncovered classic building features, unseen by the public in decades-ensures that our beloved Historic Terminal will continue to be a source of pride and enjoyment for generations to come."

The reopening celebration included a 1940's-themed public open house with live entertainment, swing dancing, children's activities, a ribbon cutting ceremony and guided tours of the Historic Terminal, which is a City-designated Historic Landmark. Designed by renowned architects William Horace Austin and Kenneth Smith Wing, the building is easily recognized for its iconic Streamline Moderne style.

The Historic Terminal is also known for its original 1.6 million-tile mosaic masterwork by artist Grace Clements, who captured the unique times and culture of Long Beach in what is now one of the best surviving examples of Work Projects Administration (also known as Works Progress or WPA) projects nationwide. Three of the nine total mosaic vignettes were covered over and not seen for decades until being restored as part of this latest restoration effort, including the vignette of a propeller plane that was officially uncovered with a ceremonial unveiling during the open house.

Highlights of the project include: seismic retrofits; the 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; the uncovering of the full floor mosaic; updated restrooms; the ongoing conversion of the former ticketing area into space for rental car services; and other improvements. Some finishing touches remain underway.

"The Historic Terminal's striking architecture and the masterpiece floor mosaic are timeless works of art that mirror the timelessness of our Airport," said Fifth District Councilwoman Megan Kerr. "Honoring our past while embracing the future ensures that the oldest municipal airport in California retains that title for another century or more."

"This Historic Terminal project is a testament to Long Beach's dedication to preserving its history while also lifting us up to new heights," said Fourth District Councilman Daryl Supernaw. "I'm delighted that this architectural icon will be enjoyed for decades to come."

With the renovation now complete, the City will apply for the Historic Terminal's inclusion on the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places, which is the nation's official list of historic properties worthy of preservation.

The $17.8 million project builds on other recent improvements at Long Beach Airport that are part of the $125 million Phase II - Terminal Area Improvements Program, designed by Corgan and constructed by Swinerton, to streamline the travel experience from curb to gate. And the restoration of the Historic Terminal comes at a special time as Long Beach Airport-the oldest municipal airport in California-celebrates its 100th anniversary.

"After a century of service, Long Beach Airport is committed to preserving our rich aviation history while also maintaining modern, first-class standards," said Airport Director Cynthia Guidry. "Our Historic Terminal is the crown jewel of the Airport campus, and I'm so proud to see it restored to its former glory."

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

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. More information about Long Beach Airport is available at lgb.org and on Facebook, Instagram and X @LGBAirport.

For more news, pictures, videos and announcements of what's happening in Long Beach, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.