Idlewild Airport: A Name Rooted In History

Idlewild Airport was named after the Idlewild Beach Golf Club, which was built on the site before construction of the airport began in 1942. The golf club was a recreational facility for the wealthy, and the name Idlewild is believed to be inspired by the wild nature of the site at the time. The airport opened on July 1, 1948, and was commonly known as Idlewild Airport until it was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport in 1963, following the assassination of the president.

Idlewild Airport was named after the Idlewild resort and golf club

The name Idlewild was the popular name for the airport, which opened on July 1, 1948, while the official name was New York International Airport, Anderson Field, named for Major General Alexander E. Anderson, a decorated World War I veteran and Queens businessman.

The airport's design was unique and modern. Because of airline requests, the runways were laid out in multiple directions to allow for changing winds. The airport terminals and parking lots were located in the centre and alone encompassed an area greater than La Guardia Airport.

The airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport in December 1963, in honour of the slain president.

The name Idlewild was inspired by the wild nature of the site

Idlewild Airport, now known as John F. Kennedy International Airport, was built on a former golf course and luxury resort of the same name. The name Idlewild is believed to have been inspired by the wild nature of the site at the time, which constituted a recreational facility for the rich.

The airport was constructed on a large area of marshland on Jamaica Bay, and replaced the Idlewild Beach Golf Course, a summer hotel, and a landing strip called the Jamaica Sea-Airport. The golf course was a full regulation golf club with a clubhouse and restaurants, attracting many golfers from Brooklyn and Queens due to its location near major highways.

The airport's planning began under Mayor Fiorello La Guardia's administration, and construction started in 1942. It opened on July 1, 1948, as New York International Airport, but was commonly known as Idlewild Airport. The official name was changed to New York International Airport, Anderson Field, in early 1948, honouring Major General Alexander E. Anderson, a decorated World War I veteran and Queens businessman. However, the airport continued to be popularly known as Idlewild until it was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport in 1963, following the assassination of President Kennedy.

The Idlewild resort was a recreational facility for the rich

Idlewild Airport in New York was originally named after the Idlewild resort and golf club on Jamaica Bay, upon whose grounds it was built. The resort was a recreational facility for the rich, providing luxury accommodation and golf. The name "Idlewild" was inspired by the fact that the site was wild, and the resort was a place for leisure and relaxation for the wealthy.

The Idlewild resort was founded in 1912 by white land developers and became a prominent African American community in the west side of Michigan. It was known as "the Black Eden" or the "wild place" in the woods and offered a safe haven for Black folks of multiple classes to escape discrimination and the brutality of Jim Crow. The resort featured beautiful lakes of pure spring water, sparkling streams, an abundance of fish, skating rinks, beauty shops, hotels, cabins, and a vibrant nightlife. It attracted many Black historical figures, such as Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, who purchased land there, and W.E.B. Du Bois, who visited in 1921 and subsequently bought nine plots.

Idlewild Airport opened in 1948 as New York International Airport, but was commonly known as Idlewild Airport due to its location on the former site of the Idlewild resort and golf club. In 1963, the airport was officially renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport in honour of the assassinated president.

The airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport

The airport's new name was chosen to honour the 35th president of the United States, who was memorialised in dozens of ways following his assassination on 22 November 1963. The name change was intended to reflect the love that millions of people around the world had for the late president.

The airport's previous name, Idlewild, was the developer's name for a resort and later golf club on Jamaica Bay. The name Idlewild was believed to be inspired by the fact that the site was wild, and that the hotel and park constituted a recreational facility for the idle rich. The airport, which opened on 1 July 1948, was also known as New York International Airport, Anderson Field, named for Major General Alexander E. Anderson, a decorated World War I veteran and Queens businessman.

The airport was renamed in honour of the assassinated president

Idlewild Airport was renamed in honour of assassinated president John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States.

The airport, which opened in 1948, was originally named after Idlewild, a resort and golf club on Jamaica Bay. The name Idlewild is believed to have been inspired by the wild nature of the site at the time, and the fact that the hotel and park constituted a recreational facility for the idle rich.

On November 15, 1963, President Kennedy left Idlewild Airport after a short stay in the city. Just six weeks later, on November 22, 1963, he was assassinated. The city of New York joined the nation in mourning, and calls immediately rose to memorialise the president. On December 4, less than two weeks after Kennedy's death, Mayor Robert Wagner announced that he would submit a bill to the city council to honour Kennedy with a name change to the Idlewild Airport. The idea had been unofficially approved hours after Kennedy's assassination, but it took some time to get the official approval from his widow, Jackie Kennedy.

On December 18, 1963, the name change was formally approved, and workmen rushed to change all the signs at the airport. On Christmas Eve 1963, Idlewild officially became John F. Kennedy International Airport. The president's younger brother, Edward Kennedy, attended the ceremony, helping to unveil a 242-foot-long sign with the new name.

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