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 THE HISTORY OF ATLANTA AIRPORT

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

Indians, Armies & The Automobile

FROM RACETRACK TO AIRPORT: 1909-1929

Rise And Fall of the Atlanta Speedway
From Racetrack to Airport
Candler Field Takes Shape

EARLY YEARS AT ATLANTA MUNICIPAL: 1930-1948

Atlanta's First Terminal - Eastern Air Transport
Atlanta Municipal Airport in the Early 1930s
ATL in the Late 1930s
Pre-war 1940s
The Airlines Go To War
The Post War Boom

THE TEMPORARY TERMINAL: 1948-1961

Atlanta's Temporary Terminal
The location of Atlanta's Temporary Terminal
The Dobbs House and Uncle Remus
LIFE photos of Atlanta Airport in 1949 ( 3 pages)
Scenes from the 1950s
LIFE photos of Atlanta Airport in 1956
Expansion at the Temporary Terminal
Curbside at Atlanta's Temporary Terminal​
The Temporary Terminal Closes and Moves to Hangar One​

AIRPORT FOR THE JET AGE: 1961-1980

The 1960s
Atlanta's Jet Age Terminal
Under Construction
The Jet Age Terminal Before Opening Day
The 1961 Jet Age Terminal
The Phoenix and the Mezzanine

The Turquoise Tower
Airlines at ATL in the Early 1960s
Postcards and Aerial Photos from the 1960s
Delta's DC-9s and Space Age Rotundas
ATL at Night
Hotels, Motels, Water & Gas
Scenes from the 1960s

The 1970s
Age of the Jumbo Jets
Hartsfield International
Maps and Aerials from 1972
Scenes from the Mid 1970s
Postcard Views from the Mid 1970s
Eastern Airlines in 1976
ATL in the Late 1970s
New Airlines for Atlanta 1977-1980
Remote Gates

The 1980s
The Old Terminal in 1980: The Final Year
Inside the Jet Age Terminal in 1980
Atlanta's 1961 Terminal Closes
Tower Implosion
Remnants of the 1961 Terminal

MIDFIELD TERMINAL: 1980-

Atlanta Opens the World's Largest Terminal 
​Planning Midfield
Midfield Under Construction 1978-1980
ATL 1980-1981: The First Full Year
Postcard Views of ATL from the Early 1980s
Hal, the mysterious robot voice of ATL
Commuter Airlines at ATL During the 1980s
25 vintage photos of ATL from 1989
ATL in the 1990s
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 © 2005-2022 David P. Henderson

If you would like to contribute photos, scans, stories or additional information about any of the airlines, airports or aircraft on this site, please contact me, David Henderson, using the mail icon above. Help preserve the colorful history of aviation in Florida and Georgia! 
  • Home
  • Airlines
  • Airports
  • ATL history
  • Planes, etc
  • Timetables
  • Updates
  • About
    • The Book
    • Press
  • Contact
    • Mail Bag May-July 2018
  • Contributors