Jazmin Li
In December 2021, Las Vegas McCarran International Airport was officially renamed Harry Reid International Airport. The Clark County Commission unanimously approved the renaming of the airport in February 2021, 73 years after it was named for Nevada Senator Patrick McCarran. The decision to rename the airport was prompted by concerns over Senator McCarran's legacy, which included accusations of xenophobia, antisemitism, and racism. The new name honours Senator Harry Reid, who was from Nevada and played a significant role in expanding the airport and securing funding for aviation infrastructure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Previous name | McCarran International Airport |
| New name | Harry Reid International Airport |
| Previous namesake | Patrick McCarran |
| New namesake | Harry Reid |
| Reason for renaming | McCarran's support for xenophobic, antisemitic, and racist policies |
| Date of renaming | December 14, 2021 |
| Location | Las Vegas, Nevada |
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What You'll Learn
- The airport was renamed to Harry Reid International Airport in 2021
- The previous namesake, Pat McCarran, was criticised for his racist, antisemitic and xenophobic views
- The name change was unanimously approved by the Clark County Commission
- The airport was originally named after McCarran in 1948
- The renaming was part of a societal push to remove historically offensive names
The airport was renamed to Harry Reid International Airport in 2021
The airport now known as Harry Reid International Airport has undergone several name changes and expansions since its early days as an airfield in the 1920s. The airport was originally named after Pat McCarran, a former senator from Nevada who played a vital role in early aviation legislation. However, in 2021, the Clark County Commission voted unanimously to rename the airport after Senator Harry Reid, who also hailed from Nevada.
The decision to rename the airport was prompted by concerns over Pat McCarran's legacy, particularly his support for xenophobic, anti-Semitic, and racist policies. These revelations led to calls for the airport's renaming to distance itself from a figure associated with such controversial views. Senator Harry Reid, on the other hand, was known for his contributions to the state, including his role in securing funding and support for the airport's expansion projects.
The process of renaming the airport began in February 2021, with the official change taking effect on December 14, 2021, just two weeks before Senator Reid's death. The original McCarran Field sign at the airport's entrance was retained due to its historical significance, but other signage and materials were gradually changed to reflect the new name. The funding for these changes was covered by private donations.
The renaming of the airport reflected a broader societal push to remove "historically offensive" names and create a more inclusive and equitable space. It also served as a tribute to Senator Harry Reid and his impact on the state of Nevada, ensuring that his legacy would be remembered by those arriving in Las Vegas.
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The previous namesake, Pat McCarran, was criticised for his racist, antisemitic and xenophobic views
The McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, was renamed the Harry Reid International Airport in 2021. The previous namesake, Pat McCarran, was criticised for his racist, antisemitic, and xenophobic views.
Pat McCarran was an American farmer, attorney, judge, and Democratic politician who served as a United States senator from 1933 until his death in 1954. McCarran was born in Reno, Nevada, to Irish immigrants and grew up on his family's sheep ranch. He graduated as valedictorian of his class at Reno High School and went on to attend Nevada State University (now the University of Nevada, Reno). McCarran left college to work on the family ranch after his father suffered an injury but later returned to his studies, focusing on law. He was admitted to the bar in 1905 and began his career in politics in 1902 when he was elected to the Nevada Assembly.
Despite his contributions to his home state, McCarran's legacy has been called into question due to his support for xenophobic, antisemitic, and racist policies. McCarran was a staunch defender of Nevada politics and the "American way of life". He was also a key figure in the Cold War, working with J. Edgar Hoover and Senator Joseph McCarthy during the Red Scare in the 1950s. McCarran's name became further tarnished due to his association with Senator Joseph McCarthy, with whom he sponsored the Internal Security Act of 1950, which led to communist witch hunts and breached the rights of many citizens.
Additionally, McCarran appointed his friend, Senator James Eastland, a well-known white supremacist and segregationist, as chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Civil Rights. While McCarran did not share Eastland's views, the appointment was seen as a politically detrimental move. Furthermore, Hank Greenspun, a powerful newspaper editor in Las Vegas, wrote numerous editorials accusing McCarran of being a corrupt senator and a hater of Jews.
As a result of these controversies, many Nevada politicians supported removing McCarran's name from the airport. The decision to rename the airport gained momentum following the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent nationwide protests against racism and discrimination. The Clark County Commissioners voted unanimously to change the name, and on December 14, 2021, the airport officially became the Harry Reid International Airport.
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The name change was unanimously approved by the Clark County Commission
The Clark County Commission voted unanimously to rename McCarran International Airport in February 2021, and the change took effect on December 14, 2021. The airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, was renamed Harry Reid International Airport, after the former US Senator from Nevada. The decision to rename the airport was prompted by concerns over the legacy of Pat McCarran, the previous namesake. McCarran, who played a vital role in early aviation legislation, was accused of holding racist, antisemitic, and xenophobic views.
Indeed, reports of McCarran's history of perpetuating racism, xenophobia, and antisemitism had begun to surface, and the commissioners felt it was necessary to distance the airport from a figure associated with such negative beliefs and behaviours. The renaming reflected a societal push to remove "historically offensive" names and aimed to celebrate Senator Reid's contributions to the state.
Senator Reid, who served in the Senate from 1987 to 2017, played a significant role in Las Vegas airport expansion projects and securing funding for aviation infrastructure during his political career. Various speakers praised Reid's efforts in securing funding and support for airport projects, emphasizing his crucial role in the facility's growth.
The process of renaming the airport involved several phases, including changing the primary signage around the airport's outdoor areas and throughout the airport, from the curb to the gates. The original McCarran Field sign at the airport's Las Vegas Boulevard entrance was not changed due to its historical significance. The expenses for changing the name in signage and other materials were covered by private donations.
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The airport was originally named after McCarran in 1948
However, in recent years, there have been calls to reassess McCarran's legacy due to his support for xenophobic, anti-Semitic, and racist policies. McCarran has been criticised for his restrictive immigration policies, particularly those that limited Jewish refugee immigration after the Holocaust. These concerns sparked the movement to rename the airport, as many felt it was necessary to distance the airport from a figure associated with such controversial beliefs.
In 2021, the Clark County Commission unanimously approved the renaming of the airport to honour Senator Harry Reid, who also hailed from Nevada. The decision gained momentum following the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent nationwide protests against racism and discrimination. The commissioners felt that it was important to remove any association with McCarran's controversial views and instead celebrate a figure who had contributed significantly to the state.
The process of renaming the airport involved several phases, including changing the primary signage around the airport's outdoor areas and throughout the airport, from the curb to the gates. The original McCarran Field sign at the Las Vegas Boulevard entrance was preserved due to its historical significance. The expenses for changing the name in signage and other materials were covered by private donations.
The renaming of the airport reflects a broader trend of societal pushes to remove "historically offensive" names from places and landmarks. While some argue that changing the names of places with historical significance erases a part of history, others believe that it is a necessary step towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society.
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The renaming was part of a societal push to remove historically offensive names
The McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, was officially renamed the Harry Reid International Airport on December 14, 2021. The Clark County Commission approved the name change in February 2021, and it occurred just two weeks before the ex-senator's death. The airport was originally named after Pat McCarran, a former senator from Nevada.
Senator Harry Reid, the airport's new namesake, played a significant role in Las Vegas airport expansion projects and securing funding for aviation infrastructure during his political career. Various speakers praised Reid's efforts in securing funding and support for airport projects, emphasizing his crucial role in the facility's growth. The name change was done to honor Senator Reid's contributions and remove McCarran's controversial legacy.
The process of renaming the airport involved changing the primary signage around the outdoor areas, followed by changing the names throughout the airport, including signage from the curb to the gates. The final phase included changing business cards, stationery, and concessionaire-related work. The expenses for the name change were covered by private donations, with the airport collecting $4.2 million by October 2021.
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Frequently asked questions
McCarran Airport was renamed Harry Reid International Airport on 14 December 2021.
McCarran Airport was renamed due to concerns over the legacy of Pat McCarran, the airport's previous namesake. McCarran was accused of holding racist, antisemitic, and xenophobic views.
Harry Reid was a former US Senator from Nevada. He served in the Senate from 1987 to 2017 and played a significant role in expanding and securing funding for the airport.
The airport was previously called McCarran International Airport, named after Pat McCarran, a former US Senator from Nevada.
