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Meigs Field (CGX), Chicago, IL
41.86 North / 87.61 West
41.86 North / 87.61 West
A 1947 photo (courtesy of Mark Hess) of what was evidently the Meigs Field groundbreaking ceremony.
Plans for a lakefront airport for the city of Chicago go back to at least 1916,
when Edward Bennett (co-author of Burnham & Bennett's Master Plan of Chicago) first proposed airport on Chicago's lakefront.
In a 1916 letter, Bennett proposed, "The lakefront appears to offer a site naturally adapted for [airport] terminal facilities.
A site on the lakefront would appear also to be more conveniently placed
than any other large area available within a short distance of the central business district."
In 1920, the Chicago public approved a bond referendum to pay for construction of Chicago's lakefront.
Construction began on Northerly Island in 1922,
the same year that Mayor William Hale Thompson advocated locating the downtown airport there.
By the late 1920's consensus had grown.
The South Park Commission had voted to place Chicago's downtown airport on Northerly Island.
The business community concurred.
The Chicago Association of Commerce, in it's 1928 publication "Chicago - The Aeronautical Center" declared that:
"The city of Chicago has recently taken steps that are expected to lead
to an early agreement between the city, the South Park Commissioners & other parties
to the Lake Front Improvement Ordinance of 1919 which will make it possible for the South Park Commissioners
to proceed with the actual construction of the airport."
When the Great Depression hit in 1929, many grand civic plans were put on hold.
The plan for Chicago's downtown airport was postponed
but construction began on the first island, named Northerly Island.
A Planetarium was to be constructed on this island as well as an Aquarium on the Shore.
Then, in a bold move to pull itself up by its bootstraps, Chicago decided to host a world's fair.
In 1933, the Century of Progress fair opened on Chicago's lakefront,
built on Northerly Island & the south lakefront.
Aviation was a theme of the fair, with aircraft of all types featured.
The arrival of Italo Balbo's aerial flotilla to the fair was commemorated
with a monument that still stands in Burnham Park across the harbor from Meigs Field.
Blimps and airplanes plied the skies over the fair;
one attraction featured seaplane rides in Sikorsky S-38's owned by Pal-Waukee Airport.
Shortly after the fair closed in 1934, plans were made once again for a lakefront airport.
The Chicago City Council and Illinois State Legislatures passed resolutions to create the airport
and plans were advanced for as many as 3 runways for the airport.
Yet the combination of a poor economy, uncertainty over world events,
and mixed civic feelings over the use of the lakefront for an airport delayed construction.
In 1941, a report of the Chicago Aero Commission recommended once again
that the downtown airport be located on or near Northerly Island.
Finally, in 1946, the years of waiting ended.
The decision to build an airport on Northerly Island was finalized,
a long term lease with the Chicago Park District was signed, and construction begun.
The size of Northerly Island in 1946 was not sufficient to accommodate
the advances in aircraft & airport designs since construction of the original landfill,
so the Illinois state legislature granted an additional 24 acres of lake bottom,
nearly 1/3 of Meigs' current area, for construction of an airport.
A 1947 photo (courtesy of Mark Hess) showed several unidentified men with shovels
for what was evidently the Meigs Field groundbreaking ceremony.
Plans for a lakefront airport for the city of Chicago go back to at least 1916,
when Edward Bennett (co-author of Burnham & Bennett's Master Plan of Chicago) first proposed airport on Chicago's lakefront.
In a 1916 letter, Bennett proposed, "The lakefront appears to offer a site naturally adapted for [airport] terminal facilities.
A site on the lakefront would appear also to be more conveniently placed
than any other large area available within a short distance of the central business district."
In 1920, the Chicago public approved a bond referendum to pay for construction of Chicago's lakefront.
Construction began on Northerly Island in 1922,
the same year that Mayor William Hale Thompson advocated locating the downtown airport there.
By the late 1920's consensus had grown.
The South Park Commission had voted to place Chicago's downtown airport on Northerly Island.
The business community concurred.
The Chicago Association of Commerce, in it's 1928 publication "Chicago - The Aeronautical Center" declared that:
"The city of Chicago has recently taken steps that are expected to lead
to an early agreement between the city, the South Park Commissioners & other parties
to the Lake Front Improvement Ordinance of 1919 which will make it possible for the South Park Commissioners
to proceed with the actual construction of the airport."
When the Great Depression hit in 1929, many grand civic plans were put on hold.
The plan for Chicago's downtown airport was postponed
but construction began on the first island, named Northerly Island.
A Planetarium was to be constructed on this island as well as an Aquarium on the Shore.
Then, in a bold move to pull itself up by its bootstraps, Chicago decided to host a world's fair.
In 1933, the Century of Progress fair opened on Chicago's lakefront,
built on Northerly Island & the south lakefront.
Aviation was a theme of the fair, with aircraft of all types featured.
The arrival of Italo Balbo's aerial flotilla to the fair was commemorated
with a monument that still stands in Burnham Park across the harbor from Meigs Field.
Blimps and airplanes plied the skies over the fair;
one attraction featured seaplane rides in Sikorsky S-38's owned by Pal-Waukee Airport.
Shortly after the fair closed in 1934, plans were made once again for a lakefront airport.
The Chicago City Council and Illinois State Legislatures passed resolutions to create the airport
and plans were advanced for as many as 3 runways for the airport.
Yet the combination of a poor economy, uncertainty over world events,
and mixed civic feelings over the use of the lakefront for an airport delayed construction.
In 1941, a report of the Chicago Aero Commission recommended once again
that the downtown airport be located on or near Northerly Island.
Finally, in 1946, the years of waiting ended.
The decision to build an airport on Northerly Island was finalized,
a long term lease with the Chicago Park District was signed, and construction begun.
The size of Northerly Island in 1946 was not sufficient to accommodate
the advances in aircraft & airport designs since construction of the original landfill,
so the Illinois state legislature granted an additional 24 acres of lake bottom,
nearly 1/3 of Meigs' current area, for construction of an airport.
A 1947 photo (courtesy of Mark Hess) showed several unidentified men with shovels
for what was evidently the Meigs Field groundbreaking ceremony.
An aerial view of the Grand Opening of Meigs, from the 12/11/48 issue of the Chicago Herald-American.
The construction took over 2 years,
culminating with a grand opening on Friday, December 10, 1948.
Despite sub-freezing temperatures, the opening was attended by nearly 100 aircraft,
including over 75 Flying Farmers.
The celebration was attended by many city & aviation leaders,
including Mayor Kennelly, Merrill Meigs, and Stuart Symington, Secretary of the Air Force.
Festivities included the dropping of 51 glass bottles containing store gift certificates into Chicago's harbor
from a Cessna 170 flown by Mr. & Mrs. John Wilson of Lockport, IL.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the best speech of the day was made by Lee Talladay,
a Flying Farmer from Milan, MI.
"I didn't expect when I got up & milked the cows at 4 o'clock this morning
to be rubbing elbows over lunch with the brass hats from Washington & the tycoons from Chicago's State Street stores.
But that just shows what can happen when aviation really comes into its own
as it has in this small instance of Chicago's lake front strip," said Talladay.
The construction took over 2 years,
culminating with a grand opening on Friday, December 10, 1948.
Despite sub-freezing temperatures, the opening was attended by nearly 100 aircraft,
including over 75 Flying Farmers.
The celebration was attended by many city & aviation leaders,
including Mayor Kennelly, Merrill Meigs, and Stuart Symington, Secretary of the Air Force.
Festivities included the dropping of 51 glass bottles containing store gift certificates into Chicago's harbor
from a Cessna 170 flown by Mr. & Mrs. John Wilson of Lockport, IL.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the best speech of the day was made by Lee Talladay,
a Flying Farmer from Milan, MI.
"I didn't expect when I got up & milked the cows at 4 o'clock this morning
to be rubbing elbows over lunch with the brass hats from Washington & the tycoons from Chicago's State Street stores.
But that just shows what can happen when aviation really comes into its own
as it has in this small instance of Chicago's lake front strip," said Talladay.
An aerial view looking southeast at Meigs Field soon after its opening in 1948.
A 1948 photo (courtesy of Mark Hess) of a large number of aircraft & spectators at Meigs Field.
A poster promoting the 6/30/50 Dedication of Meigs Field.
A 1952 aerial view depicted Meigs with its original 2,800' runway.
Five planes were parked in front of the terminal on the northwest side,
and another 10 planes were parked on a ramp on the northeast side.
The 1953 USGS topo map depicted Meigs with its original 2,800' runway.
In 1955, Meigs' single runway was extended from 2,800' to its ultimate length of 3,900'.
A 1956 aerial view (courtesy of Mark Hess) looking northwest at Meigs Field.
A 10/1/59 aerial view (courtesy of Mark Hess) looking southwest at s busy Meigs Field ramp,
showing dozens of general aviation & business aviation aircraft.
A July 1960 photo by Ed Clark of President Dwight Eisenhower's Sikorsky VH-34 at Meigs Field.
A 10/19/61 photo (courtesy of Mark Hess) of a Bell 47 in front of the new Meigs terminal building, presumably decorated for its dedication.
Mayor Richard Daley dedicated a new Meigs Field passenger terminal building in 1961.
A circa 1961 aerial view from the 1962 IL Airport Directory (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling)
depicted Meigs' newly lengthened runway, measuring 3,710' with a 235' paved overrun.
It also showed a large number (dozens) of aircraft parked on the field.
The operators were Butler Aviation & Chicago Helicopter Airways,
and the manager was listed as William O'Brien.
The June 1962 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of William Pagett)
depicted Meigs as having a single 3,300' paved runway.
In 1962, an expansion of the airport was proposed,
including a 5,000' runway & additional aircraft parking on the east side, but no action was taken.
Two undated postcard photos (courtesy of Benton Bullwinkel) of Meigs Field (the top photo had a date of 1964 on the back).
The 1969 Chicago Sectional Chart depicted Meigs as having a single 3,900' paved runway.
Meigs Field, as depicted on the November 1971 Chicago Sectional Chart.
In 1972, Mayor Richard Daley proposed Meigs' closure (what would ultimately become the first of many proposals),
but he backed down when threatened with the loss of federal FAA funding.
In 1980, Mayor Byrne proposed Meigs' closure for the 1992 World's Fair,
another proposal which fortunately was not carried out.
In 1989 the City of Chicago accepted FAA funding for Meigs,
along which Mayor Daley signed a grant agreement
pledging to seek purchase or lease extension of the airport property to 2009.
On October 15, 1992 a Boeing 727 that was donated from United Airlines to the Chicago Museum of Science & Industry
made its final landing at Meigs, on its way to be transported to the museum to become an exhibit.
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This was notable because Meigs' runway was somewhat shorter than that used typically by a 727,
but the lightly-loaded jet did not require all of the runway.
The 727 was then barged off the airport, prepared for exhibit & eventually further barged to the museum.
In 1992, the City Department of Aviation published its intent to close the airport in its annual report.
What a progressive & supportive Department of Aviation.
That threat was carried out in September of 1996,
when the Park District & Department of Aviation closed Meigs (for the 1st time).
A sad day for Chicago-area aviators,
and a very bad precedent for aviation in general.
However, within 2 months, the State Legislature voted to reopen the airport under state control.
In January 1997, Governor Edgar & Mayor Daley struck a bargain:
Meigs would reopen for 5 years, with the City retaining control of the airport.
The agreement did not require the airport to close at the conclusion of the 5 year period.
Meigs was given a new lease on life when in reopened in February of 1997.
In February 1998, Meigs received its first instrument approach procedure,
ending Chicago's reign as only major American city without an instrument approach procedure to its nearest downtown airport.
A November 1998 view looking northeast at the Meigs ramp, showing 3 Cessna Citation jets & 2 Beech King Airs.
A 1999 USGS aerial photo, showing Meigs only 4 years before it was closed again.
Note the presence of over 2-dozen aircraft on the ramp,
but that the runway had been shortened to 3,500', with the northern threshold moved by 500'.
A beautiful September 2001 aerial view of Meigs by Dave Sims.
A 7/2/02 photo of a Cessna Citation II landing at Meigs Field by Zach Gollman.
The last photo which has been located showing Meigs while still in operation was a December 30, 2002 aerial view looking northeast,
showing a large number of aircraft on the ramp.
The photo was taken only 3 months before the airport was destroyed in the middle of the night by the city's own government.
In its last years, it was estimated that Meigs Field contributed a minimum of 1,500 jobs
and $57.3 million annually to the local economy.
A 2003 aerial photo looking southeast at the destruction of Meigs Field -
carried out in the middle of the night by order of Mayor Daley in 2003.
A 2003 aerial photo looking northwest at the destruction of Meigs Field -
carried out in the middle of the night by order of Mayor Daley in 2003.
A 2005 aerial photo by Ron Plante – showing that all of the publicly-paid-for runway infrastructure at Meigs Field has been completely destroyed.
A circa 2006 aerial view looking east at the former Meigs Field control tower
A circa 2006 aerial view looking east at the former Meigs Field terminal building.
An April 2006 photo by Tobias Rad looking west at the former Meigs Airport terminal building.
An August 2013 photo by Kevin Raab looking northeast at the former Meigs Field control tower.
Kevin reported, “The the old control tower is not open to the public.”
n August 2013 photo by Kevin Raab looking southwest at the former Meigs Field terminal building.
Kevin reported, “Most of the land where the runway & taxiways used to be is fenced off & a park/wildlife area of some sort is currently under construction.
I was unable to find any signage anywhere commemorating the picturesque little airport that once was there.”
An August 2013 photo by Kevin Raab of the interior of the former Meigs Field terminal building.
Kevin reported, “The old terminal building is partially open to the public.”
Marty Coddington reported, “I was always a crusader for airports. Once they are gone...
The CGX thing still has me angry. Mayor Daily Sr. must be rolling in the grave. He was very proud & protective of CGX.”
To express your displeasure over the destruction of Meigs Field,
contact Mayor Daley at [email protected], 312-744-3334.
The history of Meigs, and details of the fight to reopen the field,
have been covered in great detail at the web site of The Friends of Meigs Field.
http://www.friendsofmeigs.org/
http://www.airfields-freeman.com/IL/Airfields_IL_Chicago_C.htm#meigs
but the lightly-loaded jet did not require all of the runway.
The 727 was then barged off the airport, prepared for exhibit & eventually further barged to the museum.
In 1992, the City Department of Aviation published its intent to close the airport in its annual report.
What a progressive & supportive Department of Aviation.
That threat was carried out in September of 1996,
when the Park District & Department of Aviation closed Meigs (for the 1st time).
A sad day for Chicago-area aviators,
and a very bad precedent for aviation in general.
However, within 2 months, the State Legislature voted to reopen the airport under state control.
In January 1997, Governor Edgar & Mayor Daley struck a bargain:
Meigs would reopen for 5 years, with the City retaining control of the airport.
The agreement did not require the airport to close at the conclusion of the 5 year period.
Meigs was given a new lease on life when in reopened in February of 1997.
In February 1998, Meigs received its first instrument approach procedure,
ending Chicago's reign as only major American city without an instrument approach procedure to its nearest downtown airport.
A November 1998 view looking northeast at the Meigs ramp, showing 3 Cessna Citation jets & 2 Beech King Airs.
A 1999 USGS aerial photo, showing Meigs only 4 years before it was closed again.
Note the presence of over 2-dozen aircraft on the ramp,
but that the runway had been shortened to 3,500', with the northern threshold moved by 500'.
A beautiful September 2001 aerial view of Meigs by Dave Sims.
A 7/2/02 photo of a Cessna Citation II landing at Meigs Field by Zach Gollman.
The last photo which has been located showing Meigs while still in operation was a December 30, 2002 aerial view looking northeast,
showing a large number of aircraft on the ramp.
The photo was taken only 3 months before the airport was destroyed in the middle of the night by the city's own government.
In its last years, it was estimated that Meigs Field contributed a minimum of 1,500 jobs
and $57.3 million annually to the local economy.
A 2003 aerial photo looking southeast at the destruction of Meigs Field -
carried out in the middle of the night by order of Mayor Daley in 2003.
A 2003 aerial photo looking northwest at the destruction of Meigs Field -
carried out in the middle of the night by order of Mayor Daley in 2003.
An outrage!
The above photos should sicken the stomach of anyone who believes in elective democracy & the rule of law.
On the night of March 31, 2003, under the cover of darkness & without any prior public notification,
the Mayor of Chicago, Richard Daley, sent in city bulldozers with police escort to destroy only runway at Meigs Field,
a publicly-owned general aviation airport.
All aircraft based at the field were stranded,
and the public (including rent-paying owners of aircraft based at Meigs)
were barred entrance to the property.
Daley had wanted to close the airport for years, even though it served as a desperately-needed reliever airport,
diverting business & private aircraft traffic away from already-choked O'Hare & Midway Airports.
Many municipalities would love to have such an airport with millions of dollars of paid-for aviation infrastructure,
yet Daley decided that he should destroy the infrastructure owned by his constituents.
The above photos should sicken the stomach of anyone who believes in elective democracy & the rule of law.
On the night of March 31, 2003, under the cover of darkness & without any prior public notification,
the Mayor of Chicago, Richard Daley, sent in city bulldozers with police escort to destroy only runway at Meigs Field,
a publicly-owned general aviation airport.
All aircraft based at the field were stranded,
and the public (including rent-paying owners of aircraft based at Meigs)
were barred entrance to the property.
Daley had wanted to close the airport for years, even though it served as a desperately-needed reliever airport,
diverting business & private aircraft traffic away from already-choked O'Hare & Midway Airports.
Many municipalities would love to have such an airport with millions of dollars of paid-for aviation infrastructure,
yet Daley decided that he should destroy the infrastructure owned by his constituents.
A 2005 aerial photo by Ron Plante – showing that all of the publicly-paid-for runway infrastructure at Meigs Field has been completely destroyed.
A circa 2006 aerial view looking east at the former Meigs Field control tower
A circa 2006 aerial view looking east at the former Meigs Field terminal building.
An April 2006 photo by Tobias Rad looking west at the former Meigs Airport terminal building.
An August 2013 photo by Kevin Raab looking northeast at the former Meigs Field control tower.
Kevin reported, “The the old control tower is not open to the public.”
n August 2013 photo by Kevin Raab looking southwest at the former Meigs Field terminal building.
Kevin reported, “Most of the land where the runway & taxiways used to be is fenced off & a park/wildlife area of some sort is currently under construction.
I was unable to find any signage anywhere commemorating the picturesque little airport that once was there.”
An August 2013 photo by Kevin Raab of the interior of the former Meigs Field terminal building.
Kevin reported, “The old terminal building is partially open to the public.”
Marty Coddington reported, “I was always a crusader for airports. Once they are gone...
The CGX thing still has me angry. Mayor Daily Sr. must be rolling in the grave. He was very proud & protective of CGX.”
To express your displeasure over the destruction of Meigs Field,
contact Mayor Daley at [email protected], 312-744-3334.
The history of Meigs, and details of the fight to reopen the field,
have been covered in great detail at the web site of The Friends of Meigs Field.
http://www.friendsofmeigs.org/
http://www.airfields-freeman.com/IL/Airfields_IL_Chicago_C.htm#meigs
Dreamflyer
New Member
Cuantas veces no me estrellé en Meigs... Quería aterrizar la C-182 a 100 o más nudos. (Se me hacía que a menos que eso se desplomaba)... Así aprendí que tenía que leer el manual y de las aterrizadas tren arriba, también aprendí que tenía que leer el checklist.
Fue muy triste que lo deshabilitaran. Recuerdo que inicié aproximaciones por instrumentos despegando de Meigs y luego interceptando los localizadores de KORD, que hasta donde recuerdo estaban orientados perpendicularmente con respecto a la pista de Meigs, por lo que era despegar y luego vuelta a la izquierda.
Había unos tutoriales que te guiaban para hacer patrones en Meigs... El "Instructor" al final te decía, gritando "Excelent landing"... En ese momento me creía más que Tom Cruise con su F14 en TopGun
Descanse en pas Meigs y viva por siempre en la memoria de los simmers de antaño.
Fue muy triste que lo deshabilitaran. Recuerdo que inicié aproximaciones por instrumentos despegando de Meigs y luego interceptando los localizadores de KORD, que hasta donde recuerdo estaban orientados perpendicularmente con respecto a la pista de Meigs, por lo que era despegar y luego vuelta a la izquierda.
Había unos tutoriales que te guiaban para hacer patrones en Meigs... El "Instructor" al final te decía, gritando "Excelent landing"... En ese momento me creía más que Tom Cruise con su F14 en TopGun
Descanse en pas Meigs y viva por siempre en la memoria de los simmers de antaño.