Celebrating 90 Years of History
1942
1931 Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport was originally founded as Hillsgrove State Airport. The first state-owned and operated airport in the U.S. The commencement air shows drew over 150,000—the largest crowd that had attended a public function in the country until that time.
1938
1933 The original Terminal Building was the first public building in Rhode Island built in the Art Deco style.
State Hangar 1, was built to store and maintain aircraft, as well as a control tower and administrative offices. The space was leased to tenants, creating a revenue stream for the airport.
The First Army Air Force took control of the airport as a fighter and training base. In 1945, they returned control to the state.
1950 Air traffic reached record levels with 120,000 passengers and 4 million pounds of cargo.
1961 Construction of a new airport terminal was completed to accommodate landing of larger jets.
1930’s
1935 The construction of concrete runways began and installation of a two-way radio station, a federally designated airway double-light beacon for night flyers, and a radio beam navigation system, the only one in New England at the time.
1939 The Rhode Island National Guard moved to the airport and began anti-submarine patrols to protect coastal shipping and convoys.
1932 Hillsgrove State Airport sponsored an “air pageant”, which included appearances by famous early pilots Jimmy Wedell, Russell Boardman, and Capt. Fred Williams.
12
1938 The airport renamed Theodore Francis Green State Airport in honor of Green, who served as Rhode Island’s Governor and U.S. Senator.
1958 Rhode Island received a grant of $150,000 for construction of a control tower and fire station, Warwick Ladder 8.
1978 The State of Rhode Island released the first draft of their updated Master Plan—which represented the official policy regarding present and future use of Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport.
