Comments on: Sea-Tac Airport Evolution

By: Oran Viriyincy

Oran Viriyincy — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:13:47 +0000

Wow… that parking structure compared to today’s. So much parking!

This must have been like in the middle of nowhere back then.

By: Paul Henry

Paul Henry — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:14:15 +0000

The original airport structure seen in the 1950s photo is actually still there–it’s the main terminal area just behind ticketing and between Concourses B and C. It’s been completely surrounded by the much larger current structure, but the roof and original control tower still poke out the top of the central terminal.

Overhead view: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&ll=47.443688,-122.302479&spn=0.001087,0.00284&t=h&z=19

Bird’s eye: http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=rx6j2r4t77q3&style=b&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&scene=37672934&encType=1

Amazing how small it was compared to the airport we know today!

By: Matt the Journeyman

Matt the Journeyman — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:39:52 +0000

I love all that grass, as if they had expected people to picnic there. A postcard of the same scene today might appropriately show chasms full of magma, maybe some tar pits.

By: Seattle Greg

Seattle Greg — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:37:29 +0000

Best of all is the last minute photoshop placement in the post card. That is the very first Boeing 747 in it’s original Boeing Livery. You can see this one parked today at the Museum of Flight Airpark, still painted with all that you can make out in the postcard.

That WOULD make it a bit more accurate, as the plane appears to sort of be on approach to King County Field. (AKA Boeing Field) althought it might take out the Holiday Inn across from the airport with an engine or two at that altitude…

You can almost hear them… “Hey, this would sell better with a Boeing Jet in it. Too bad there was not a good shot of one landing or taking off… go find a shot and edit it in…”

By: Shannon C.

Shannon C. — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:55:26 +0000

I barely recognize the airport without permanent, ongoing construction!
I also love that there are about six cars in that photo, during the daytime no less. I can’t even fathom Seattle that way.

By: Adam Parast

Adam Parast — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:48:36 +0000

WOW!! Look at all the extra space. I can’t imagine what the port would have had to do if they weren’t forward looking and saved all that extra room.