METROPOLITAN AIRPORTS COMMISSIONRELIEVER AIRPORTSSearch/BrowseGoMinneapolis-St. Paul International Airport WeatherContact UsMSP Site MapMSP HistoryA PIONEER IN AIR TRANSPORTATIONNearly a century ago the seeds were planted for what is known today as the Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport (MSP). Since that time, the MSP has earned a reputation as one of the safest, most convenient and efficiently run airports in the world. Over the years, the MSP has experienced many milestones and innovations that have cntributed to its world-class reputation.In 1914, Snelling Speedway sat where MSP currently operates. The auto-racing venue was unsuccessful, and the Minneapolis Aero Club acquired property to use the land for loftier purposes.The first hangar, a wooden structure, was constructed in 1920 to accommodate airmail service, and the 160-acre property became known as Speedway Field. In 1923, the airport was renamed Wold-Chamberlain Field in honor of two local pilots, Ernest Wold and Cyrus Chamberlain, who lost their lives in combat during World War I.In its 80-year history, MSP has undergone numerous changes from the first landing strip in 1920 to its first passenger service in 1929 to massive reconstruction efforts in the early 1960s, including the construction of a new main terminal, a maintenance base and headquarters for Northwest Airlines. Perhaps the most influential and innovative change came in 1943, when state lawmakers passed legislation creating the Metropolitan Airports Commission, or the MAC, to promote airport transportation and commerce in a seven-county region. In the middle of WWII, lawmakers recognized airplanes represented the future of transportation and wanted to make the Twin Cities the aviation leader for the Midwest. The MAC was the first metropolitan agency created by the legislature. The Minnesota governor appoints a chairman and 12 commissioners. The mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul each MSP HomeTravelers GuideDirectionsMSP KidsMSP Media CenterMSP JobsAirport ExpansionMSP HomeTravelers GuideDirectionsMSP KidsMSP Media CenterMSP JobsAirport Expansion12/4/02 12:36 PMMSPAirport.com MSP - MSP HistoryPage 1 of 2http://www.mspairport.com/MSP/MSP_Media_Center/MSP_History/appoint another, bringing the total commission body to 15. Each commissioner serves a four-year term. With the arrival of international service, the airport underwent its final name change in 1948, becoming Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.In 1958, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the Lindbergh Terminal. The Lindbergh terminal opened to the public in 1962 and was designed to serve four million passengers a year by 1975. Passenger growth far exceeded projections, however, with more than 4.1 million people using the airport by 1967. Passenger growth continued to exceed expectations in the 70s and 80s. To address this growth, the Minnesota legislature passed the Minnesota Legislature's Metropolitan Airport Planning Act in 1989 establishing the Dual Track Airport Planning Process, which was designed to study the region's long-term aviation needs. The seven-year planning process, conducted by the Metropolitan Airports Commission and the Metropolitan Council, addressed ways to provide the needed capacity and facilities at MSP for the region's long-term aviation needs.Upon completion of the study in 1996, the Minnesota Legislature directed the Metropolitan Airports Commission to implement the MSP 2010 Long-Term Comprehensive Plan, providing for $3.1 billion in airport improvements at the current site. MSP Media CenterNews Media Center MSP History MSP Fast Facts © 2002 Metropolitan Airports Commission.12/4/02 12:36 PMMSPAirport.com MSP - MSP HistoryPage 2 of
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