Life, food, events, and community in Albuquerque, NM

Sunport Blogging, Part 3

Ever since I’ve been commuting from Albuquerque to the Capital City (not the City Different, but the one supposedly built on a swamp), I’ve been tantalized by glimpses of the old Albuquerque Airport terminal, built in 1939.

Last week, I decided to see it up close and in person.

It was an adventure.

The first challenge is getting to it. Mapquest and Google Maps are slyly deceptive – the main road to the current Sunport gives you a sneak peek at what’s now called the Old Airport Terminal, but there is no public access from the current Sunport.

To get to the Old Airport Terminal, head south on University and turn left on George. Go up the hill, past the post office. You’ll see it on your right just before the road ends.

The second challenge is parking. Signs sternly warn that parking is for TSA/government employees, and I could not find any visitor parking. I took a chance on the Post Office parking lot and did not get ticketed.

The first thing you see walking up to the old Albuquerque Airport is Jack O'Connor's Eagle Dancer statue.

I dithered about whether to just walk into the building, which now houses the Transportation Security Administration. Uniformed TSA employees, who appeared to be guarding the place, stood outside the front door, which was wired with an alarm/code box.

Having been admonished some weeks ago by a TSA employee for taking photos (of the artwork!) at the current Sunport, this third generation Arab-American wasn’t sure quite how to proceed. Airports, for people who look like us, aren’t always entry to the friendly skies. (Link to FWA).

The “guards” left. Coffee break, it seems.

I mustered up the courage to walk up the steps, pushed in the door and gasped with pleasure. (Sensual experiences will do that to a woman – stunning architecture, exquisite art, Theobroma chocolates, …)

The lobby was for all intents and purposes, empty. A few TSA employee worked diligently in the corner, behind what I learned was the old airport reception counter. I asked for permission to take pictures of the building and artwork, they kindly granted it.

This is a building that everyone in Albuquerque should see.

It conjures visions of travel in the days when people went on Grand Tours – spacious and gracious.

I really do prefer today’s populist access to travel, but sometimes I yearn for the romance and glamour of yesterday’s travel, when people got freebies like these cool retro flight bags and travel stickers for their luggage and puffer machines did not exist.

First impressions of the old Sunport: herringbone patterned latillas crisscrossing vigas darkened by age and smoke, high ceilings and cool flagstone floors, classic New Mexico tinwork on light fixtures and picture frames.

South-facing windows frame breathtaking views of the tarmac backdropped by mountains.

There’s a fireplace in the northeast corner, topped by a nicho housing the carving, Santo Nino de Atocha, by Patrocinio Barela. (Be sure to check out this show at the NHCC that features his work - it closes August 10, 2008).

Turn right into the first room and you’ll see some of the chunkiest vigas I’ve ever seen in a public building. Not only are these hand carved and marked with local symbols, but each individual chisel mark on the wood is visible, giving you a sense of the artisans who made them. I can’t imagine how big the trees must have been – these are simply massive. Standing in this room, you can’t help but wonder about the history behind these beams.

Back in the lobby there’s more art, including several paintings of solitary Indian dancers by Pop Chalee (who is quickly turning into my favorite NM artist), and four antique Navaho rugs of different regional styles, including a lively Ye'ii and a classic Two Grey Hills. There are also two paintings; be sure to read the documentation next to Brooks Willis’s depiction of Carnuel.

Sadly, the lighting in the Old Airport Terminal is abysmal for amateur photography, otherwise I’d have included photos for you.

But this way, you’ll be more inclined to check it out with your own eyes, yes?

Tags: albuquerque, albuquerque_sunport, old_airport_terminal, old_albuquerque_airport

24 Comments

Comment by Doug R on July 14, 2008 at 8:23pm: BB - keep 'em comin'. I look forward to your posts.

Comment by Adelita on July 14, 2008 at 8:29pm: Barelas Babe, this is so cool! I remember as a child my mother used to work at the old Airport in the 60's. It wasn't the airport terminal anymore by this time, but housed the first Albuquerque Museum. She used to volunteer in the gift shop and I would tag along and wander around that cool old building.

Later when in college in the 80's it was a popular place to rent for parties. Saw lots of cool music shows there too - Cadillac Bob and the Rhinestones and the Broadway Elks.

Comment by KelVick on July 14, 2008 at 8:31pm: Awesome! We love NM history and architecture. Thanks.

Comment by Ron Da Bomb on July 14, 2008 at 9:02pm: Ahh, the good ole days...

Comment by Khan on July 14, 2008 at 9:51pm: I remember going here as a kid, I had an uncle that flew a little plane and we would go meet him here when he came to town. I think we used to go up on an observation platform and watch the Blue Angels form there, too. My memories are garbled, but rather precious to me.

Comment by Barelas Babe on July 14, 2008 at 10:15pm: Doug, Kelvick - Thanks for the kudos. I'll keep sniffing out old history and buildings.

Adelita - parties? I got here too late!

Ron Da Bomb - can you tell us something about the photo? I'm curious and I'll bet others are too!

Comment by Rocky on July 14, 2008 at 10:46pm: I’ve only been to the Old Airport Terminal once, for some kind of 50’s dance, back in the 80’s – too many brain cells gone to remember what for or who played, but I can’t forget winning ‘Best Costume’ (presented by Hizzoner Harry Kinney) for my gangsta double breasted suit and a white fedora (that suit was actually collateral for a deal gone bad, but I can’t talk about it) –
It is a marvelous space for a party (and I guess it would now come with its own security…..)

Comment by neal copperman on July 15, 2008 at 12:01am: Next time you are in DC, go to the National Building Museum. Not only is it a really amazing building which always seems to have cool exhibits cycling through, but it also houses a permanent exhibit on the building of DC. You can see maps over the last 200 years, a 100+ year old model of the city, and a lot more really cool stuff. (The building was home to several presidential inaugural balls.)

Comment by Barelas Babe on July 15, 2008 at 12:15am: Neal - I LOVE the National Building Museum! Last time I visited was just before I drove back to Burque.

Comment by neal copperman on July 15, 2008 at 12:23am: Why am I not surprised? :)

Sunport Blogging, Part 3

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