Hangar One, commonly referred to as Hangar No. 1, is an airplane

hangar A hangar is a building or structure designed to hold aircraft or spacecraft. Hangars are built of metal, wood, or concrete. The word ''hangar'' comes from Middle French ''hanghart'' ("enclosure near a house"), of Germanic origin, from Frankish ...

located on the grounds of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

. It was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1992. Hangar No. 1 was built in 1929 and was the first structure built on what was then known as Mines Field. At the time, the airport consisted of a dirt landing strip in the middle of

bean A bean is the seed of several plants in the family Fabaceae, which are used as vegetables for human or animal food. They can be cooked in many different ways, including boiling, frying, and baking, and are used in many traditional dishes th ...

and

barley Barley (''Hordeum vulgare''), a member of the grass family, is a major cereal grain grown in temperate climates globally. It was one of the first cultivated grains, particularly in Eurasia as early as 10,000 years ago. Globally 70% of barley pr ...

fields. The building was constructed by the city for $35,000, and leased to the

Curtiss Wright Flying Service The Curtiss-Wright Corporation is a manufacturer and services provider headquartered in Davidson, North Carolina, with factories and operations in and outside the United States. Created in 1929 from the consolidation of Curtiss, Wright, and v ...

.Tim Waters
Renovation to Restore Hangar to '30s Grandeur
''Los Angeles Times'', March 29, 1990, Accessed November 3, 2010. The airport opened in 1930 as the Los Angeles Municipal Airport, and was purchased by the city in 1937 and renamed the Los Angeles Airport.General Description - Just the Facts
Los Angeles World Airports, Accessed November 3, 2010. During this period the hangar was used by

Charles Lindbergh Charles Augustus Lindbergh (February 4, 1902 – August 26, 1974) was an American aviator, military officer, author, inventor, and activist. On May 20–21, 1927, Lindbergh made the first nonstop flight from New York City to Paris, a distance o ...

and the German

LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin LZ 127 ''Graf Zeppelin'' () was a German passenger-carrying, hydrogen-filled rigid airship that flew from 1928 to 1937. It offered the first commercial transatlantic passenger flight service. Named after the German airship pioneer Ferdinan ...

was tied down near its doors during its stop in Los Angeles. In 1933 and 1936, tens of thousands of spectators lined up near Hangar No. 1 to watch the

National Air Races The National Air Races (also known as Pulitzer Trophy Races) are a series of pylon and cross-country races that have taken place in the United States since 1920. The science of aviation, and the speed and reliability of aircraft and engines grew ...

. Commercial passenger air service did not begin at the airport until December 5, 1946. The building was declared a

Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments are sites which have been designated by the Los Angeles, California, Cultural Heritage Commission as worthy of preservation based on architectural, historic and cultural criteria. History The Historic-Cult ...

No. 44 by the city's Historical Heritage Board on November 16, 1966. However, the building fell out of use in the 1970s and sat vacant. It was marked for demolition in the early 1980s to make way for airport expansion, however a group with interests in architecture and aviation stepped in and persuaded airport officials to save the building. In 1990, a $2 million renovation brought it up to modern earthquake codes and restored its 1930s appearance. As a condition of renovation, the developer, Texas-based AVIA Development Group, earned permission to develop two new cargo buildings nearby. AVIA also made the application to the National Register of Historic Places, partly in order to gain $400,000 in tax credits. It currently serves as a cargo building for the Aviation Facilities Company.properties » LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, CA (LAX)
, Aviation Facilities Company, Inc., Accessed November 3, 2010. 2010-1101-HangarNo1-street

The two-story brick and concrete building was one of five designed in the

Spanish Colonial Revival The Spanish Colonial Revival Style ( es, Arquitectura neocolonial española) is an architectural stylistic movement arising in the early 20th century based on the Spanish Colonial architecture of the Spanish colonization of the Americas. In the ...

style, and is the only remaining structure. The hangar is noted for its architecture, especially its elaborate towers, tile roofs and arches. The designers' intent was likely to promote the new airport. The building is , currently divided into of cargo handling space and of office space. The bay is in width by in length and is in height. It has two apron-side doors with a door width and height.

References

{{National Register of Historic Places Aircraft hangars in the United States Transport infrastructure completed in 1929 Los Angeles International Airport Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments Industrial buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Los Angeles Spanish Colonial Revival architecture in California Aircraft hangars on the National Register of Historic Places 1929 establishments in California