The Rise of Detroit Metropolitan Airport: A Look Back at its Early Years

Detroit Metropolitan Airport has a rich history that spans several decades. Founded initially as Wayne County Airport in 1929 and later renamed Detroit Metro Airport in 2002, this significant airfield played an integral role in the growth and development of Michigan's economy.

One of the most iconic structures associated with Detroit Metropolitan Airport is its L.C. Smith Terminal (formerly known as the Coleman Young International). Completed in 1958 after several years of construction, it stood proud as a symbol not only of modernity but also progress - marking a significant milestone for air travel across America's Midwest.

The terminal was designed by renowned architectural firm Smith, Hinchman & Grylls Associates and its design reflected the era's streamline Art Deco style. Its sleek lines and curvaceous curves gave it an unmistakable look that would become synonymous with mid-20th-century airport architecture worldwide.

Inside, passengers were treated to all sorts of modern conveniences for their time - including large windows offering breathtaking views onto runways below where DC-7s and other commercial jets took off towards destinations across North America. The interior spaces themselves featured an arrayed assortment of chrome accents complementing richly patterned terrazzo flooring.

However, as times changed so too did air travel patterns shifting away from traditional hubs like Detroit toward more convenient hub-and-spoke networks centered around major metropolitan areas such as Chicago O'Hare or New York JFK/John F Kennedy. With falling demand and increasing maintenance costs eventually leading up to its closure in 2002; today what remains serves largely symbolic purposes remembering an era long gone by.

In conclusion, while Detroit Metropolitan Airport's heyday may be behind us now; the legacy lives on through structures like L.C Smith Terminal - reminders of how far aviation has come since those early days when flying was still very much a luxury reserved only for select few.

Lc smith terminal