Preserving Iowa City’s Rich Airport Heritage.

Fact is that over one million people fly in and out of the Eastern Iowa Airport – located in Cedar Rapids – each year. Yet, did you know, when the original plans for a regional airport were created back in the early-to-mid 1950’s – Iowa City was to be the location for that busy airport?

Yup, very few people realize that Iowa City was once the center of activity for much of the first 50 years of aviation history in Iowa. As a matter of fact, our Iowa City airport – which opened in 1918 – is the oldest airstrip west of the Mississippi River – with many of the early pioneers of flight landing here – including Wiley Post, Jack Knight, Charles Lindbergh, Will Rogers, and more!

**Iowa City Airport – Circa 1922**. All the features of a well-built air mail field are pictured (above) in this mid-1920s photograph taken from across the dirt Red Ball Highway. Constructed in late 1922, the large hangar was equipped with floodlights at each end. The office building under the American flag measured 20 by 30 feet.A rotating beacon sits atop the tallest tower. Plane spotters and weather observers could climb to the deck at the top of the lower, which also sported a floodlight.

In May 1920, just five months after he flew the first airmail flight in and out of Iowa City, **Walter J. Smith** was killed in a plane wreck – an all-too-common fate for early airmail pilots. Shortly thereafter, the Iowa City Airport was renamed “**Smith Field**” in his honor.

And, it was only in the late 1950’s, after our short-sited city council failed to approve funding for expanded facilities for United Air Lines, when the airline decided to move their operations to Cedar Rapids!

Ozark Airlines came in at that time (1959-1970), lasting for 11 years, but by the time the U.S. Postal Service moved all of their mail distribution services to Cedar Rapids (1972), the cabin door had closed on Iowa City’s long-standing dominance in the passenger airline business.

In 2018, the Iowa City Airport celebrated its centennial birthday. Five years later (2023), a U of I graduate from the School of Art – Jenna Brownlee – completed a massive mural that commemorates and celebrates the rich 100-year history of aviation in Iowa City. Come take a deeper look at this colorful masterpiece. *View the collection here.*

Photograph (right) by Jan Olive Nash, Iowa City Municipal Airport: Opening the West to Aviation, 1918–2007, Iowa City Municipal Airport Commission and U.S. Federal Aviation, 2007

*Aerial view of the Iowa City Municipal Airport, looking southwest, c. 1980s, photographer unknown – From Iowa City Municipal Airport collection.*

Fortunately, since that sad day in 1972 when public air passenger service ended in Iowa City, the Iowa City Municipal Airport has not only survived, but today, has blossomed into one of the busiest “private” airports in the Midwest.

Today, the private air traffic at the Iowa City Airport is growing at an amazing pace. Which brings us, once more, to an important intersection in our city’s history.

The Iowa City Airport Commission is currently working diligently to expand our city’s airport services. Unlike the short-sided city council in the late-1950’s, this commission is doing all it can to make sure Iowa City and Johnson County has the very best general aviation airport around. Part of those expansion plans include replacing the present-day, under-sized…

Dedicated in 1953, this small Airport Terminal & Admin Building – located at the center of the airport – 1801 Riverside Drive – was more than adequate in the early days of the Jet Age, and with only Ozark Airlines flying in and out of Iowa City until 1972, the terminal was plenty sufficient once all air passenger service headed north to Cedar Rapids.

Interestingly, it’s reported that McCreedy Construction built the north wall of the Terminal (office end) as non-supporting, making it very easy for future expansion – which, of course, was never needed – until today!

As the Iowa City Airport Commission works to improve our city’s airport, it’s our desire to come alongside the commission and find creative ways to Save and Preserve Iowa City’s Iconic 1953 Airport Terminal & Administration Building as well. So, here on this page, you’ll find both the history of this building, the story behind the Iowa City architect who designed it, and, our plan on how we might work alongside the Airport Commission – making this classic structure into an intricate part of the Iowa City Airport as it grows and expands. First, let’s start with the history…

As World War II ended (1945), and America’s greatest generation returned home from the war, Iowa City was growing like a weed. Below, notice how both Iowa City and Johnson County experienced double-digit population growth between 1940 and 1950.

***Here’s an overview of the Iowa City Airport – as drawn up by United Air Lines in October 1946.***

Beginning in 1946, United Air Lines committed itself to making Iowa City one of its primary Midwestern stops with daily flights to and from Chicago and Omaha. The United States Post Office, of course, continued to use the Iowa City Airport as its eastern Iowa hub for its ever-increasing volume of airmail.

*This photograph from October 1949 comes from The Iowa City Press Citizen special souvenir edition issued June 13, 1953. See more here.*

In October 1949 (see pic above), plans were well underway to update the airport, with a big part of those plans including a new administration building that would house United’s office needs while also serving as the airport’s main terminal. In 1950, a local, well-known architect – Henry L. Fisk – was contacted.

For much of his twenty-eight professional years in Iowa City (1934-1962), Henry L. Fisk was our city’s only registered architect. Serving as the local architectural consultant for the new Iowa City Press-Citizen Building in downtown Iowa City (1937), Fisk was also well-known around town for his modern residential designs. More on Mr. Fisk a bit later…

Wanting something sleek and modern, the Airport Commission loved Fisk’s design and with construction beginning in April 1952, the building was completed on time and dedicated on Flag Day – June 14, 1953.

Click here to read all about the construction of the new administration building, and that special Flag Day celebration in Iowa City.

On Saturday, June 13, 1953, The Iowa City Press-Citizen issued a special 12-page Souvenir Edition honoring the dedication of the new Iowa City Municipal Airport Administration Building. Read more here.

In 1950, lowa City architect Henry Fisk designed the new administration building for the airport, photographed here in 1956 by Iowa City’s famed photographer – Fred Kent. It was dedicated on June 14, 1953 and served commercial passengers of both United Air Lines and Ozark Air Lines (1953-1972).

***United Air Lines featured the lowa City airport as the “Station of the Month” in its August 1955 employee publication, writing…***

“Students at the University of lowa help swell lowa City’s population to more than 27,000. The university, noted especially for its sports teams and medical school, generates much of United’s local business. A multi-million dollar drug products plant now under construction by Proctor & Gamble is expected to further strengthen the area’s economy. United has a local staff of five employees to handle two Convair flights a day.”

***The Iowa City Airport Terminal – photographed here in 1956 by Iowa City’s famed photographer – Fred Kent.***

***Iowa City’s mayor – Leroy S. Mercer – declares Friday, January 22, 1954 as United Air Lines Day – celebrating United’s expanded passenger air service into Iowa City.***
*You can read more about Mayor Spencer here.*

In the early-to-mid 1950’s, more and more people were taking to the skies to get to their favorite destinations. While train service on the Rock Island Railroad – from Iowa City to Chicago and Omaha – was still the cheapest way to travel, the convenient flight times offered by United Air Lines were highly-attractive for jet-setters on the go.

**Meet Vincent Harris – Iowa City’s High-Flying Traveling Salesman.** In 1955, United Air Lines produced a 30-minute promotional film encouraging Americans to fly, using the theme: *The Sky Is For Everyone*. One three-minute segment features the fictional traveling salesman from Iowa City – Vincent Harris. In this entertaining story, family-man Harris has now found a “new way of life” since using United and Hertz Rent-A-Car for his long-distance sales calls. Come enjoy this high-flying tale!

The DC-3 that landed at the lowa City Municipal Airport one steamy afternoon in August 2006 circled the town several times to announce its presence before landing. Appearing twice as large and half as fast as the customary general aviation aircraft based at the airport, the Rose did indeed attract dozens of lowa Citians to the airport to admire the plane from the observation deck and picnic table outside the lobby door. Numerous aviation enthusiasts bought tickets and flew “around the patch” in the Rose before it left town 24 hours later. Photograph by Jan Olive Nash, Iowa City Municipal Airport: Opening the West to Aviation, 1918–2007, Iowa City Municipal Airport Commission and U.S. Federal Aviation, 2007

In April 1952, McCreedy Construction began its work on Henry L. Fisk’s contemporary design. Projected at a cost of $130,000, the south wing (right) was a restaurant that could seat 30 people. The north wing (left) was reserved for offices and United Air Lines was able to begin using theirs by late January 1953. The middle section on the first floor was used, of course, as a passenger waiting room, while the second floor (middle) was open – to be used for large group activities.

***The building was completed by April 11, 1953 at a total cost of $145.500. The dedication was held on Flag Day – Sunday, June 14, 1953.***

Today, the exterior of the administration building at the lowa City Municipal Airport remains remarkably intact. Though the interior received a major renovation (2007), the Airport Commission and project architects largely preserved the historic spatial arrangement of rooms and hallways, as well as the sunlit staircase to the second floor located just behind the glass-block window seen above.

Henry Leach Fisk was born to John M. & Martha H. Fisk in Franklin County, New York on March 27, 1901. At age nine (1910), the Fisks moved to Iowa City, where Henry attended both Iowa City High School and SUI (graduating in 1924), before heading off to the University of Pennsylvania to study architecture.

On June 25, 1925, Henry married Ruth Wilson, who was born on February 2, 1899 in Seymour (Wayne County), Iowa. After graduation (1927), Henry worked for firms in Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Des Moines – each giving him practical experience with many architectural styles. Acquiring a good breadth of experience before he hung his shingle in Iowa City (1934), all of this happened during the Great Depression, so Fisk certainly had to be willing to work on any kind of project as a very versatile architect to survive.

***Built in 1937, Henry Fisk was the local consulting architect for The Iowa City Press-Citizen building – located at 319 Washington Street in Iowa City.***

**Roland Wehner joined Henry Fisk as an apprentice in 1956, became a certified architect, and then, Fisk’s partner in 1960.** **You can read more about Wehner’s story here.**

***Near the end of his career, Henry Fisk and partner Roland Wehner designed several public buildings that have been part of the*** **local** *streetscape for decades and have served our communiti*es well. They include the original Towncrest shopping plaza, Iowa City Civic Center (City Hall), Robert Lucas and Mark Twain schools, and parts of the Scattergood Friends School campus near West Branch. Fisk and Wehner also designed the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center (above) not long before Fisk’s sudden death from a heart attack in 1962. *Read more here.*

Henry L. Fisk – age 61 – died tragically on July 13, 1962 when he suffered a heart attack while driving his car in Iowa City. His wife, Ruth W. Fisk, continued living in their home at 243 Hutchinson Avenue (pictured above) – designed by Fisk in 1947 – almost up until the time of her death thirty years later – at age 92 – on March 7, 1992. Below are the Fisk’s obituaries from The Iowa City Press-Citizen (1962 and 1992)…

Henry’s parents – John M. Fisk (1875-1931) and Martha H. Leach (1875-1953), and his one sister – Charlotte Fisk (1902-1996) of Des Moines, are all buried in Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. Henry L. Fisk (1901-1962) and his wife – Ruth Wilson (1899-1992) are buried there as well. Married in 1925, the Fisks had two daughters – Charlotte ***K. (Thompson) of Iowa City & Nancy A. (Ross) of*** ***Tokyo Japan***.

In the mid-1940’s, Fisk started to experiment with a new style that has become known as mid-century modern. He was one of the first architects in the Midwest to embrace and adapt the style. Most of his designs from that point on were modern. Innovations in glass technology allowed architects to work with larger planes of glass than was previously possible, and Fisk took great advantage of this. All his homes feature huge windows and enormous views. Fisk’s designs tend to be modest and unassuming from the street, yielding a definite treat when one goes inside! As his junior partner Roland Wehner once said, “With Fisk you always get a surprise.”

***On October 28, 2016, author Sue Rhomberg wrote a beautiful overview on the legacy (below) of Henry L. Fisk. Sue also oversees a website dedicated to his work.*** *See more here.*

Read Roland Wehner’s remembrances of working with Henry L. Fisk here.

Going forward, as a new terminal and office building is planned for the Iowa City Airport, we would love to see Henry L. Fisk’s iconic building be saved from the wrecking ball. Without a doubt, Fisk created a unique design that, today, makes it a worthy candidate for the National Register of Historic Places. The terminal’s design is a rare surviving example of mid-20th Century American aviation architecture – similar to terminals at Cincinnati’s Lunken Airport and New York City’s LaGuardia Airport, both built in the late 1930’s – yet also embracing a post WWII modern design that became highly popular with the advent of the Jet Age (1950’s). This Preservation Project on behalf of the Iowa City Airport Terminal is supported by both The Friends of Historic Preservation and The Johnson County Historical Society.

**The Iowa City Airport Terminal – 2024 – Photo by Luke Harden**

We hope you’ll bookmark this page as we work together in the months ahead to Preserve Iowa City’s Iconic 1953 Airport Terminal & Administration Building.

On July 1, 1976, The Iowa City Press-Citizen published a special 76-page Bicentennial edition. In that edition there were articles and pictures related to stories found on this page. Click here to check it out.