HISTORY OF ATLANTA AIRPORT

The following pages trace the evolution of Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport from its beginnings as a dirt racetrack in 1909 to the world's busiest airport today. The pages are in chronological order and the time periods are defined by the various passenger terminals in use through the years. You can click on individual pages or start at the beginning of the grand century-long tour.

FROM RACETRACK TO MAJOR AIR HUB: 1909-1948

Atlanta Candler Field: From racetrack to airport
The early years of Atlanta Airport: 1920s-1930s
Atlanta Airport in the 1940s

THE TEMPORARY TERMINAL: 1948-1961

Atlanta's Temporary Terminal
The location of Atlanta's Temporary Terminal
LIFE photos of Atlanta Airport in 1949
LIFE photos of Atlanta Airport in 1956
Expansion at the Temporary Terminal
Curbside at Atlanta's Temporary Terminal​

AIRPORT FOR THE JET AGE: 1961-1980

 Atlanta's Jet Age Terminal
The Jet Age Terminal before opening day
The 1961 Jet Age Terminal
The Temporary Terminal Moves To Hangar One
ATL postcards and aerial photos from the 1960s
DC-9s and Space-Age rotundas
Atlanta Airport at night
Hotels, motels, gas and water
Scenes from the 1960s
Atlanta Airport in the early 1970s
Postcard views of ATL from the mid 1970s
ATL in the late 1970s
Remote gates at the 1961 terminal 
The old terminal in 1980: the final year 
Inside Atlanta's Jet Age terminal in 1980
The 1961 terminal closes
Implosion of the Atlanta Airport control tower - July 1, 1984
Remnants of the 1961 terminal: What is there today?

MIDFIELD TERMINAL: 1980-TODAY

Atlanta opens the world's largest terminal 
Postcard views of ATL from the 1980s
Hal, the mysterious robot voice of ATL
25 vintage photos of ATL from 1989
ATL in the 1990s

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