Roberta Aguirre
McCarran Airport in Las Vegas has changed its name to Harry Reid International Airport. The airport was originally named after Senator Pat McCarran, who represented Nevada from 1932 until his death in 1954. However, McCarran has since been criticized for a legacy of racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia. The name change was unanimously approved by the Clark County Commission, and the airport's new name honors former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who represented Nevada in the Senate for three decades.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of name change | 15 December 2021 |
| New name | Harry Reid International Airport |
| Previous name | McCarran International Airport |
| Reason for name change | McCarran's "history of perpetuating racism, xenophobia and antisemitism" |
| Cost of name change | $7.2 million |
| Source of funding | Private donations |
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What You'll Learn
McCarran Airport renamed to Harry Reid International Airport
McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas was officially renamed to Harry Reid International Airport on December 15, 2021. The airport was originally named after former Sen. Pat McCarran, who represented Nevada from 1932 until his death in 1954. Sen. McCarran was an aviation advocate, but he has also been criticized for a legacy of racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia.
The push to rename the airport was led by Commissioner Tick Segerblom, who had previously tried and failed to rename the airport while he was a state senator in 2017. The Clark County Commission unanimously approved the name change in February 2021 after reports of Sen. McCarran's history of racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia began to surface. The new name honors former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who represented Nevada in the Senate for three decades.
Reid said it was "the greatest of honors" to have the airport named after him. He added, "For my whole life I've been coming and going from McCarran Airport, since the first time I ever got on a plane, back in 1958. This airport has been my gateway to the world. During my 35 years in Washington, I was here a lot. Home means Nevada, and for me, the airport long ago became synonymous with home."
The renaming process will occur in three phases. The first phase involves changing the primary signage around the airport's outdoor areas. The second phase will change the signage from the curb to the gates, as well as other internal signage. The final phase will see changes to business cards, stationery, and concessionaire-related work. The original McCarran Field sign at the airport's Las Vegas Boulevard entrance will not be changed due to its historical significance.
The total cost of the renaming process is estimated to be around $5 million. As stipulated by the commission, all funding for the project must come from private donations. By October 2021, the airport had collected $4.2 million, and the remainder of the process is estimated to cost $3 million. The airport has not revealed a timeline for when the changes will be completed, as it is still seeking funding to finish the project.
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The original McCarran Field sign retained due to historical significance
The McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas was renamed after former US senator Harry Reid. The Clark County Commission approved the renaming unanimously after reports of McCarran's history of racism, xenophobia, and antisemitism surfaced.
The airport was originally named after Senator Patrick McCarran due to his reputation as a vocal advocate for the aviation industry. However, his legacy has been criticised for its racist, antisemitic, and xenophobic undertones.
Senator Harry Reid, on the other hand, has been praised for his representation of Nevada in the Senate for three decades. Reid expressed his honour and gratitude for the renaming of the airport, stating that the airport had long ago become synonymous with home for him.
Despite the name change, the original McCarran Field sign at the airport's Las Vegas Boulevard entrance will be retained due to its historical significance. This decision is part of the renaming process's first phase, which focuses on changing the primary signage around the airport's outdoor areas. The second phase will address signage from the curb to the gates, and the final phase will involve changing business cards, stationery, and concessionaire-related work.
The funding for the renaming process is estimated to cost $7.2 million, with all funding coming from private donations.
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The name change was funded by private donors
The name change from McCarran International Airport to Harry Reid International Airport was funded by private donors. The Clark County Commission unanimously approved the renaming of the airport after reports of former Sen. Pat McCarran's history of "racism, xenophobia and antisemitism" surfaced.
The first phase of the renaming required changing the primary signage around the airport's outdoor areas. The second phase changed the name throughout the airport, including signage from the curb to the gates. The final phase involved changing business cards, stationery, and concessionaire-related work.
Part of the stipulation for the name change was that all funding for the project must come from private donations. By October, the airport had collected $4.2 million to begin the project, with the remainder of the process costing an estimated $3 million. As the airport is still seeking funding to complete the process, no timeline for the changes has been revealed.
The name change was spearheaded by Commissioner Tick Segerblom, who tried and failed as a state senator in 2017 to rename the airport after the longtime influential Democratic lawmaker. County Director of Aviation Rosemary Vassiliadis said that four years ago, it was estimated to cost about $2 million to change the name.
The airport, which first opened in 1942 as Alamo Airport, was renamed McCarran Field in 1948 following Clark County's purchase of the airport from George Crockett. The airport was named after McCarran due to his work to further the aviation industry in the U.S.
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Sen. Pat McCarran's legacy criticised for racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia
Sen. Pat McCarran, a Democratic politician, represented Nevada in the United States Senate from 1933 until his death in 1954. McCarran's legacy is steeped in controversy, with his support for Nevada's mining, ranching, and gaming industries shaping the future of the state. Indeed, many consider him the most powerful politician in Nevada's history.
However, McCarran's legacy is also criticised for racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia. In 2020, a statue of McCarran in Washington, D.C. was the subject of controversy, with some calling for its removal due to his past antisemitic remarks and actions. This controversy extended to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, which was named after the senator in recognition of his support for the aviation industry. In February 2021, the Clark County Commissioners voted unanimously to change the airport's name to Harry Reid International Airport, citing McCarran's "history of perpetuating racism, xenophobia, and antisemitism."
McCarran's antisemitism was reflected in his views on immigration; he actively opposed efforts to allow Holocaust survivors to immigrate to the United States and played a key role in limiting the number of Jews allowed to enter the country after World War II. He also associated with well-known white supremacist and segregationist Senator James Eastland, whom he appointed as chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Civil Rights.
In addition to his antisemitism, McCarran is also criticised for his repressive policies and outdated attitudes toward minorities. He was a fierce anti-communist, becoming entangled in the Red Scare of the 1950s and associating with Senator Joseph McCarthy and J. Edgar Hoover. He was also responsible for the formation of the Subversive Activities Control Board, which punished Americans for communist activity, regardless of the integrity of the charges.
While Sen. Pat McCarran's accomplishments in supporting workers' rights and shaping the aviation industry are notable, his legacy is overshadowed by his virulent racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia.
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The airport was first known as Alamo Airport
The airport now known as Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas was first known as Alamo Airport when it opened in 1942. Six years later, in 1948, it was renamed McCarran Field after Senator Pat McCarran, a powerful political broker in Washington who had helped to secure funding for the airport's construction. McCarran was a lawyer, a populist, and a Democrat, who was well-liked among Nevadans. He was also a fierce anti-communist and a vocal advocate for the aviation industry.
McCarran's work in aviation included lobbying for the construction of the Nellis Air Force Base and authoring the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1934, which regulated air travel, and the Federal Airport Act of 1945, which developed a nationwide network of public airports. In 1968, the airport became McCarran International Airport as the facility was expanding and welcoming Las Vegas' first international flight.
In 2021, the airport was renamed Harry Reid International Airport, 73 years after it was named for McCarran. The change came about following reports of McCarran's history of "perpetuating racism, xenophobia, and antisemitism". The Clark County Commission unanimously approved the renaming, with Commissioner William McCurdy II stating, "This is about making a change for the better".
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, McCarran Airport has changed its name to Harry Reid International Airport.
McCarran Airport was named after former senator Pat McCarran, who represented Nevada from 1932 until his death in 1954.
McCarran Airport changed its name due to reports of Pat McCarran's history of racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia.
Harry Reid was a former Senate Majority Leader and democratic US senator who represented Nevada in the Senate for three decades.
McCarran Airport changed its name in December 2021.
