Roberta Aguirre
Idlewild Airport, now known as John F. Kennedy International Airport, was originally named after the Idlewild Beach Golf Course that it displaced. The golf course was a privately owned regulation golf club that attracted many golfers from Brooklyn and Queens. The airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport in December 1963, just weeks after the assassination of President Kennedy, to honour the late president.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Former name | Idlewild Airport |
| Current name | John F. Kennedy International Airport |
| Former name origin | Idlewild was the name of a resort and golf club on Jamaica Bay |
| Current name origin | Named after John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the US |
| Year of renaming | 1963 |
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What You'll Learn
- Idlewild Airport was named after the Idlewild Beach Golf Course
- Idlewild Airport was renamed after John F. Kennedy
- The airport was also known as New York International Airport
- Idlewild Airport was unofficially named while the City Council debated
- The airport was also named after Major General Alexander E. Anderson
Idlewild Airport was named after the Idlewild Beach Golf Course
In 1941, New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia announced that the city had chosen a large area of marshland on Jamaica Bay for a new airfield. This area included the Idlewild Beach Golf Course, a summer hotel, and a landing strip called the Jamaica Sea-Airport. The golf course was a privately owned, full-regulation golf club that attracted many golfers from Brooklyn and Queens due to its location near major highways.
The airport was originally known as New York International Airport, but it was commonly referred to as Idlewild Airport by locals. The name "Idlewild" was the developer's name for a resort and later the golf course on Jamaica Bay. Despite the official name change to New York International Airport in 1948, the common name "Idlewild" persisted until the airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport in 1963, following the assassination of President Kennedy.
The history of Idlewild Airport, now known as John F. Kennedy International Airport, is steeped in nostalgia for many locals who grew up with the unique name. The name change to honor President Kennedy was met with some resistance, with some locals suggesting the airport should have been named after a notable New Yorker, such as musician John Lennon.
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Idlewild Airport was renamed after John F. Kennedy
The airport, which opened in 1948, was originally named after the Idlewild Beach Golf Course that it displaced. The golf course was part of a resort and was located on Jamaica Bay. The airport was also known as New York International Airport, and later, New York International Airport, Anderson Field, after Major General Alexander E. Anderson, a veteran of World War II.
However, the name Idlewild remained in common usage. In fact, it was so well-known that when President Kennedy left the airport on November 15, 1963, just a week before his assassination, it was still referred to as Idlewild Airport.
The idea to rename the airport after Kennedy was proposed less than two weeks after his death. On December 4, 1963, Mayor Robert Wagner announced that he would submit a bill to the city council to change the name of the airport to honour the late president. The proposal was unanimously approved by the City Council, and on December 18, 1963, Idlewild officially became John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The airport's new name was unveiled in a ceremony held on Christmas Eve 1963, with the president's younger brother, Edward Kennedy, in attendance. The name change was intended to memorialize President Kennedy, with New York joining the nation in mourning following his assassination.
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The airport was also known as New York International Airport
Idlewild Airport was unofficially named after a resort and golf club on Jamaica Bay. The airport was built on the site of the Idlewild Beach Golf Course, which was displaced to make way for the airport.
In 1943, the project was temporarily renamed Major General Alexander E. Anderson Airport after a decorated veteran of World War II and Queens resident. However, this was vetoed by Mayor La Guardia. In 1944, the New York City Board of Estimate authorized the condemnation of an additional 1,350 acres for the airport, and in 1947, the Port of New York Authority leased the property.
The name "Idlewild" remained in common usage until December 24, 1963, when the airport was rededicated in honour of slain President John F. Kennedy. The idea to rename the airport after Kennedy was unofficially approved hours after his assassination, but it took several weeks to receive official approval from his widow, Jackie Kennedy. The airport thus became known as John F. Kennedy International Airport, or JFK for short.
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Idlewild Airport was unofficially named while the City Council debated
Idlewild Airport was unofficially named while the City Council and Mayor LaGuardia debated what to call the airport being planned in the 1940s. The name Idlewild was derived from the Idlewild Beach Golf Course, which was replaced by the airport. The golf course was itself part of a resort and later became a golf club on Jamaica Bay.
In 1943, the project was renamed Major General Alexander E. Anderson Airport after a decorated veteran of World War II and Queens resident who had commanded a federalized National Guard unit in the southern United States and died in late 1942. This renaming was vetoed by Mayor La Guardia, and the airport was instead unofficially called Idlewild.
In 1948, the New York City Council changed the official name to New York International Airport, Anderson Field, but the airport was still commonly referred to as Idlewild.
In 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and the airport was quickly renamed in his honour. On December 4, less than two weeks after Kennedy's death, Mayor Robert Wagner announced that he would submit a bill to change the name of the airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport. The name change was formally approved on December 18, 1963, and the airport officially became known as John F. Kennedy International Airport.
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The airport was also named after Major General Alexander E. Anderson
Idlewild Airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport in December 1963, just weeks after the assassination of the president. However, before it was known as Idlewild, there was a proposal to name the airport after Major General Alexander E. Anderson.
Major General Alexander E. Anderson was born in New York City on November 23, 1889. He enlisted in the National Guard in 1910 and rose through the ranks, eventually becoming commander of the regiment in which he fought on the Western Front during World War I. In 1938, he was promoted to Brigadier General in the National Guard and commanded the 93rd Brigade. At the outbreak of World War II, he was appointed Major General and commanded a division overseas. He became commander of the 86th Infantry Division upon its activation on December 15, 1942, and unfortunately passed away just nine days later, on December 24, 1942, in Gainesville, Texas.
The ship General A. E. Anderson (AP-111) was launched in May 1943 under a Maritime Commission contract by the Federal Shipbuilding & DryDock Co. in Kearny, New Jersey. The ship was involved in transport duties during World War II, making several voyages to North Africa, Europe, India, and Australia. During the Korean War, the ship continued its transport duties, making runs from West Coast ports in the US to Japan and Korea in support of United Nations forces.
It is not clear why the airport was unofficially named Idlewild, but it may have been related to the Idlewild Beach Golf Club, a privately owned golf club near the airport. The name Idlewild has sparked nostalgia for many, including those who grew up near General Anderson.
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Frequently asked questions
Idlewild Airport was named after the Idlewild Beach Golf Course that it displaced.
The Idlewild Beach Golf Course was a privately owned full regulation golf club. Its amenities included a clubhouse and restaurants.
Idlewild Airport opened on July 31, 1948.
Idlewild Airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport on December 24, 1963, in honour of the assassinated president.
Some people were in favour of the renaming, as it honoured the president. Others were against it, as they believed the airport should have been named after a New Yorker, such as John Lennon.
