KLGB - Daugherty Field

From 1910-1919, the city's seven miles of beach served as Long Beach's "airport." Landings and takeoffs were best made at low tides, and it was common to see fabric-covered biplanes flying off the sand amidst ocean spray.

In 1919, local aviator Earl Daugherty opened a 20 acre flying field for his flight training school at "Chateau Thierry." Located at Bixby Road and Long Beach Boulevard, it opened on June 6, 1919. Interest in aviation grew and on July 16, 1920, the City of Long Beach contacted Daugherty about developing a 60 acre municipal flying field on land situated west of Long Beach Boulevard and south of Willow Street. It was here, when the field was dedicated on December 25, 26 and 27, 1920, that Amelia Earhart caught the flying bug and decided to become a pilot.

Oil was discovered on nearby Signal Hill in 1921 and the area surrounding the municipal airport experienced tremendous growth. In 1923, the Long Beach City Council purchased 150 acres near the intersection of Spring and Cherry Streets to enable the airport to expand and gain greater access to the nation's infant air transportation system. Ground was broken on the new airport, the one we know today, on November 26, 1923, and the new Long Beach Airport was dedicated on December 20, 1924; the old airfield closed, replaced by housing.

By January 1925, private plane owners had begun to lease space at the new municipal airport. Significant development continued when the city built hangars and administrative facilities for the Army and Navy between 1928-30. In 1938, with the help of funds from the Works Progress Administration (WPA), new runways were constructed and funds authorized for a new administrative building and control tower.

An additional 255 acres was purchased in 1939 for a $150,000 administrative building. This new structure brought the total acreage of Daugherty Field, as the municipal airport had been christened, to 500 acres. On June 8, 1941, the new administrative building was dedicated, and on April 25, 1942, it opened for business. Architects W. Horace Austin and Kenneth S. Wing. Sr. designed the Streamline Moderne structure. On the ground floor, there was a waiting room, ticket office, express baggage room, post office and general office. The entire second floor was used for airline offices, while the third floor held general airport offices, a weather bureau and a teletype office. There was also a tower used for traffic control purposes. Three federally funded mosaic masterworks created by Grace Clements under the WPA Federal Art Project served as the finishing touches on the building.

As smaller capacity aircraft such as the DC-3 and Constellation were phased out of service in favor of large jets such as the Boeing 737 and Douglas DC-9, the Long Beach terminal needed to grow. In 1984, a new concourse area and pre-boarding lounge were constructed immediately south of the existing terminal building. This improvement project, while retaining the 1940s character of the terminal, provided better accessibility for patrons with disabilities, improved mobility in the passenger screening process, and improved ticketing and check-in processing of airport users. Since the terminal's distinguishing architectural characteristics were not altered, the building was named a City of Long Beach Cultural Heritage Landmark in 1990.

Over the years, the Long Beach Airport (LGB), a facility steeped in aviation history, has played a major role in the development of the City. It was the airport, along with an abundant amount of vacant adjacent land, which first attracted the attention of Donald Wills Douglas in 1940. From 1941-2015 McDonnell Douglas/Boeing  (the two companies merged in 1996)  produced Commercial and Military Aircraft.  The C-17 Globemaster 3 Transport was the last aircraft manufactured in Long Beach.

The airport is well situated halfway between the major business and tourism areas of both Orange and Los Angeles Counties. Currently, there are over 200 businesses located on airport property, including nearly 100 acres of mid-rise business park and hotel uses, several top-rate fixed base operators, and specialty aviation service companies.

Presently, Long Beach Airport covers 1,166 acres and has three runways, the longest being 10,000 feet. It is a hub of corporate activity as well as being one of the world's busiest airports in terms of general aviation activity. Scheduled airlines also provide passenger and cargo service.

Owned and operated by the City of Long Beach, the Airport is an important part of the Long Beach community. The Airport's volunteer tour program offers an invaluable learning experience. Each year, these tours allow children and adults to explore a major aviation transportation, manufacturing, and business center, contributing significantly to the local economy. 

• During the early 1920s, the only airport in Long Beach was the City’s huge, crescent shaped beach. Earl Daugherty opened a flight training school for bi-wings aircraft near Long Beach Blvd. and Willow Ave.

• In 1923, the Long Beach City Council set aside 150 acres near the intersection of Spring and Cherry Streets for use as an airfield. It was named Daugherty Field after one of Long Beach’s pioneer aviators. It was the first municipal airport to serve Southern California.

• April 7, 1925 - The first airport operator’s lease was issued.

• 1928-30 - Actual airport development of significance began when the City built hangars and administrative facilities for the Navy and Army Corps.

• 1933 – The first known, overall plan for the airport was prepared by the City Engineer. The plan was refined in 1938-39, adopted by the City Council on September 24, 1940, and served to guide the airport development through the World War II period.

• Mid 1930s - Two runways were constructed during the mid 1930’s, the military commenced operations in 1936 and the FAA (Civil Aeronautics Authority) formally activated a control tower.

• During the late 1930s the City working along with the military and civil aviation completed plan to construct Runways 30, 25R, 16L, 25L and the existing Terminal Building. The work was completed in August, 1941.

• 1940 - Groundbreaking for the initial Douglas facility occurred in November. The building was dedicated in October 1941.

• 1941 - Daugherty Field was increased by 500 acres and the Airport Terminal was completed. The terminal, designed by architects W. Horace Austin and Kenneth Wing, has since been designated as a Long Beach Historical Landmark.

• During the late 1940s and 1950s, major land acquisitions included the buffer area between Lakewood Boulevard and Clark Avenue now in use as Skylinks Golf Course, together with adjacent areas along Lakewood Boulevard and south of Spring Street. The airport grew to approximately 1,134 acres by 1965.

• From 1952 through 1960, the main diagonal runway (30/12) was improved and extended 2400’ to the southeast and 700’ to the northwest. These improvements brought the airport to its present size and runway configuration.

• July 1955 – The City approved a plan, financed by general obligation bonds, to extend the diagonal runway (30) to a full 10,000’ and acquire additional clear zone land.

• Between 1982 and 1985, the following improvements were made: - Rehabilitation of Terminal Building utilities - Refurbishment of Terminal Building - 1984, construction of new 16,150 sq. ft. facility including passenger holdroom, security screening area and covered passenger concourse linking the Terminal Building with the new holdroom. The new facility was built to accommodate the use of jets such as the Boeing 737 and Douglas DC-9. - Construction of new, enlarged baggage claim facility - Construction of four-story parking structure with a 1,050-vehicle storage capacity. - Construction of terminal area roadway improvements to add curbside area and transit facilities.

• 1989 – City permitted to implement interim aircraft noise compatibility ordinance, pending appeal process.

• 2009 - Airport begins construction on new parking garage

• 2010 - New terminal groundbreaking