Wasilla Airport history

Although Alaskan aviation originated in Fairbanks in 1913, Anchorage quickly became the "Air Crossroads." Anchorage's illustrious aviation history began disastrously with the crash of its first airplane.

With the founding of Anchorage in 1915 and the concurrent building of the Alaska Railroad as an overland supply link to Fairbanks and interior Alaska, the end was in sight for Knik.

By 1923 Anchorage had grown to Ninth Avenue.

In July of 1924, Wein and Yunkers departed the golf course following the Alaska Railroad made the first nonstop flight from Anchorage to Fairbanks.

In 1926 he founded Anchorage Air Transport Inc.

In November 1927 Merrill became the first pilot to cross the Alaska Range and fly over the remote Kuskokwim River.

On September 16, 1929, Russ Merrill lifted his heavily loaded, float-equipped, Travelair into the air on what was to be his last flight.

During the 1930's rumors ran rampant concerning the establishment of military air bases in central Alaska.

By the summer of 1931, all aircraft operators were advised to discontinue their use of the Park Strip.

In July 1934 Lieutenant Colnel Henry H. Arnold arrived at Merrill Field with ten Martin B-10 twin-engine bombers (pictured). It was a spectacular sight as many Anchorage citizens had never seen a military airplane, let alone ten.

Aviation continued to grow, and by 1935 six airlines were operating off Merrill Field.

The first dredged channel connected the lakes in 1938.

Aviation became more sophisticated, and by 1939 the Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA) installed and commissioned a Low Frequency Range Station at Merrill Field.

In April of 1940 the 4th lnfantry arrived at Merrill Field with 774 enlisted men and 30 officers.

The Elmendorf north/south runway construction was completed on June, 1941 and the runway became operational on June 27.

In February of 1942, the city passed a resolution to assume control of Merrill Field's management and security.

On August 1, 1946, the CAB announced that three new air routes would converge in Anchorage.

Congress created a separate United States Air Force in September 1947.

1948 Congress approves $13,000,000 to fund two "international type" airports in Anchorage and Fairbanks.

1951 Airfield operations begin in December.

The airport was completed and opened for business in January 1952.

The terminal building with the control tower was dedicated and commissioned in October, 1953.

By 1954 the CAA had ranked Anchorage as the nation's fourth busiest aviation center.

1957 Europe to Asia "over the pole" commercial traffic begins to transit Anchorage.

1959 On January 3, Alaska becomes the 49th State, and the United States transfers ownership of Anchorage International Airport to the new state at an estimated value of $11,650,000.

1960 As the decade opens; the Airport's original east/west runway is extended from 8,400 to 10,600 feet.

By 1961 the East/West runway was extended 2,200 feet and the parking aprons were also extended to accommodate the jet aircraft.

Then, on March 27, 1964, a devastating earthquake measuring 9.2 Mw shook Anchorage for five minutes.

Wasilla was incorporated in 1973.

1975 Another channel is dredged between Lake Hood and Lake Spenard.

During this time construction of the new Anchorage lnternational Control Tower/Radar facility began and was commissioned in 1976.

The Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, a cooperative venture of several oil corporations, completed the construction and the oil began flowing June 1977.

1978 Construction begins for the international satellite terminal, later to be called the North Terminal.

1980 A new 10,496-foot north/south runway is completed.

1987 A parking garage with 1,200 parking spaces is built for the South Terminal.

1989 Russian airspace opens.

1990 International passenger traffic continues to drop as larger, longer-range jets come on-line.

1994 International passenger traffic decline bottoms out and begins to increase.

1999 The South Terminal undergoes major renovation and construction begins on a new 440,000 square foot concourse.

2000 In honor of Alaska's Senior United States Senator, the Airport is renamed-Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

2003 The Airport strengthens and reconstructs its north/south runway, and adds a new north/south taxiway that parallels the reconstructed runway.

The Grand Opening of the world class terminal was celebrated on June 30, 2004.

2005 The Airport opens its new 115,755-square-foot airside Field Maintenance Facility, housing heavy equipment, snow graders, and other Airport maintenance vehicles.

2010 During the summer of 2010, the Airport reconstructs the east half of the southerly east/west runway (Runway 7R/25L). The runway was reopened for full operations in the fall of 2010.

2011 October, 2011 celebrated the opening of the new Airport Communication Center in the North Terminal.

In August 2012, Icelandair announced that they will begin twice weekly, non-stop seasonal between Iceland and Anchorage.

Service is slated to begin May 15, 2013 and will run through mid-September, 2013.

By the end of 2015, the City of Wasilla had 1,959 businesses registered with the Department of Finance, Sales Tax Division.