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Denver's Stapleton International Airport was named after Denver Mayor Ben Stapleton, who was determined that his city would play a role in aviation. The airport opened in 1929 as a small municipal airport and quickly became the fifth busiest airport in the nation. Over the years, the airport grew alongside the city of Denver, becoming a hub for several major airlines. However, by the late 1980s, city leaders recognized that Denver had outgrown the facility, leading to the development of the Denver International Airport, which replaced Stapleton in 1995.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Stapleton International Airport |
| IATA | DEN |
| ICAO | KDEN |
| FAA LID | DEN |
| Location | Denver, Colorado |
| Year opened | 1929 |
| Year closed | 1995 |
| Named after | Mayor Ben Stapleton |
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What You'll Learn
Denver Mayor Ben Stapleton wanted his city to be involved in aviation
Denver Mayor Ben Stapleton was determined that his city would play a role in aviation. In the 1920s, he envisioned an airport that would bring international air traffic and shipping to Denver. This vision became a reality with the opening of the Denver Municipal Airport (DMA) in 1929.
The site for the airport, known as the Sand Creek site or Rattlesnake Hollow, was selected for its proximity to downtown Denver, just seven miles away. The opening of the airport was a significant event, celebrated with a four-day program of events from October 17 to October 20, 1929. However, in its early days, the airport functioned more like a post office, with only a few passenger flights and the primary purpose of flying mail.
Despite this, the airport quickly became profitable, with thirty takeoffs and landings registered every day by the end of its first full year of service in 1930. This was a significant increase in air traffic, and three new companies signed on to provide service. The onset of World War II further boosted aviation technology and cultivated a mass appreciation for air travel among Americans. As a result, Denver became recognised as an important air hub due to its central location and proximity to military bases.
In 1944, DMA was renamed Stapleton Airfield in honour of Mayor Ben Stapleton, reflecting the city's growing importance in aviation. Over the years, the airport expanded to accommodate increasing air traffic, with the addition of a new control tower, concourses, and terminal expansions. In 1964, the airport was renamed Stapleton International Airport, further emphasising its role in international air travel.
Stapleton International Airport served as Denver's primary airport for sixty-five years until it was replaced by the Denver International Airport in 1995. The closure of Stapleton International Airport marked the end of an era, and the site has since been redeveloped into a bustling community with residential neighbourhoods, schools, and parks.
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The airport opened in 1929 as Denver Municipal Airport
The airport that would later become Stapleton International Airport opened on October 17, 1929, as Denver Municipal Airport. The airport celebrated its opening with a four-day program of events, from October 17 to October 20, 1929.
At the time, only three airlines had offices in the two-story administration building: Mid-Continent Express, which had just begun passenger service between Denver and El Paso; Western Air Express; and US Airways. Since there were so few passenger flights in 1929, the new facility functioned more like a glorified post office—the primary purpose of all three companies was flying the mail.
By the end of 1930, its first full year of service, Denver Municipal Airport was already turning a profit, with thirty takeoffs and landings registered every day and three new companies signing on to provide service: Carlos Reavis Service, Eddie Brooks Service, and Western Flying Service.
In 1944, the airport was renamed Stapleton Airfield, in honour of Denver Mayor Ben Stapleton, who was determined that his city would play a role in aviation. The airport was replaced by the current Denver International Airport in 1995.
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It was renamed Stapleton Airfield in 1944
The airport that would later be known as Stapleton International Airport was originally named Denver Municipal Airport (DMA) when it opened in 1929.
During World War II, there were giant leaps in aviation technology, and after the war, the average American took to flying in numbers never seen before. This helped aviation capture much of the passenger market that trains had held for generations. As a result of its central location between the country's international borders and its proximity to military bases, Denver became viewed as an important aviation hub.
On August 25, 1944, DMA was renamed Stapleton Airfield, in honour of Denver Mayor Ben Stapleton, who was determined that his city would play a role in aviation. The airport's new name reflected the city's ambitions and helped solidify its status as a significant aviation hub.
In 1964, the airport was renamed again, becoming Stapleton International Airport, reflecting its steady growth and international status. It served as Denver's primary airport and Colorado's premier airport for 65 years until it was replaced by Denver International Airport in 1995.
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The airport was replaced by Denver International Airport in 1995
Stapleton International Airport was replaced by Denver International Airport (DIA) in 1995. The last flight to land at Stapleton was Delta Flight 569 from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, which touched down at 7:59 pm on February 27, 1995. The final flight to depart from Stapleton was Continental Flight 34, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 bound for London Gatwick Airport, which took off at 9:27 pm. After Flight 34 cleared the runway at 9:39 pm, the airport was officially shut down, bringing an end to 65 years of service.
Stapleton International Airport opened in 1929 as Denver Municipal Airport (DMA) and became the primary airport of Denver, Colorado. It was renamed Stapleton Airfield in 1944, in honour of Mayor Ben Stapleton, who was determined that his city would play a role in aviation. The airport was small, with only three airlines operating from the two-story administration building. However, by the end of its first full year of service in 1930, DMA was turning a profit, with 30 takeoffs and landings registered every day.
Over the years, the airport expanded, and in 1964, it was renamed Stapleton International Airport. By the 1980s, however, plans were underway to replace Stapleton due to various problems, including inadequate lateral separation between runways, which led to long waits during instrument-flight operations. The new Denver International Airport opened on February 28, 1995, just a few hours after the closure of Stapleton.
The redevelopment of the former airport site, covering 4,700 acres, has been a large-scale project, requiring rehabilitation, infrastructure improvements, and the development of public services. The Stapleton Foundation published the Stapleton Development Plan ("the Green Book") in 1995, which outlined a vision for a new mixed-use residential neighbourhood. Today, the former airport site is a bustling community, with thousands of homes, schools, parks, and entertainment areas.
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It was Colorado's premier airport for 65 years
Stapleton International Airport was Colorado's premier airport for 65 years. It opened on October 17, 1929, as Denver Municipal Airport, and was renamed Stapleton International Airport in 1964. The airport was instrumental in Denver's development as a national transportation and shipping hub.
The airport was born out of Mayor Ben Stapleton's determination in the 1920s to ensure that his city played a role in aviation. By the end of 1930, the airport was already turning a profit, with thirty takeoffs and landings registered daily. During World War II, giant leaps in aviation technology were made, and after the war, the average American took to the skies in numbers never seen before. This helped Denver become viewed as an important aviation hub due to its central location and proximity to military bases.
In the 1960s, the airport underwent significant expansion, including the addition of a new fourteen-story control tower, two new concourses, and new terminal sections, giving it a distinctive horseshoe shape. The airport continued to grow, and by 1967, it had a finished product that represented a significant investment in the city.
However, by the late 1980s, city leaders recognised that Denver's needs had outgrown the facility. Stapleton faced issues such as inadequate runway separation, causing long waits during instrument-flight operations. Residents in the nearby Park Hill neighbourhood also filed lawsuits over noise complaints. As a result, plans were made to replace Stapleton, and in 1995, the airport closed, bringing an end to 65 years of service. The land has since been redeveloped as the commercial and residential neighbourhood of Central Park.
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Frequently asked questions
The Stapleton Airport was named after Denver Mayor Ben Stapleton, who was determined that his city would play a role in aviation.
The Stapleton Airport was opened on October 17, 1929.
The former name of the Stapleton Airport was the Denver Municipal Airport (DMA).
The DMA was renamed Stapleton Airfield on August 25, 1944.
The Stapleton Airport closed on February 27, 1995, and was replaced by the Denver International Airport.
