Admin

<p>Built as a training base for pilots in World War II, Olathe Naval Air Station later served as the headquarters of the Naval Air Transport Service. </p>

Olathe Naval Air Station (New Century AirCenter)

Discover why Kansas City was once known as the "Air Hub of America" with this citywide collection of former and current airports, historic buildings, military bases, monuments, and museums. The trail starts with a pair of airfields from the early 19th century before making its way into the suburban and downtown Kansas City with several buildings that were used by TWA. The trail continues from downtown to the Missouri River industrial area, home to Fairfax Industrial Airport and Municipal Airport (now Charles Wheeler Airport). The trail makes stops at the city's two museums dedicated to the history of airlines and concludes at the newly completed airport terminal at Kansas City International Airport. Completed in 2023, the new terminal has its own Clio walking tour that explores the history of aviation in Kansas City, along with audio from many of the artists whose works can be found throughout the airport. The trail continues west, moving to the former home of North American Aviation, which produced aircraft in World War II, and then moves south to a pair of Johnson County airports that also trace their history to World War II. The trail returns near its starting point with two more stops, a former airfield in Leawood and the former Grandview Airport, which later served as an Air Force Base from World War II until the early 1990s. 

Olathe Naval Air Station (New Century AirCenter)

Introduction