How a swampy New Deal project became one of the world's most beautiful airports
In short: Portland International Airport began as a flood-prone site in the 1930s, built to provide Great Depression-era jobs. Today, it is a celebrated hub that balances local culture with global connectivity, famously requiring fair retail pricing for all its shops and restaurants to ensure travelers pay the same as locals.
The site of Portland International Airport was originally a low-lying, flood-prone area along the Columbia River. In 1936, the Portland City Council purchased the land, and with a US$1.3 million Works Progress Administration grant, transformed it into a 'super airport.' The construction effort, which historian Neil Barker called a significant New Deal public works improvement, required workers to dump over 4 million cubic yards of sand to drain the land and build dikes to manage flooding. Two runways were operational by 1941, and the facility served the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.
The airport has undergone constant evolution, including a major terminal renovation in 1959 and the addition of international services in 1967. Its history is marked by both architectural ambition and tragedy. A 1997 garage construction collapse killed three steelworkers, and the airport has faced several notable aviation incidents, including the 1978 crash of United Airlines Flight 173. That specific disaster, caused by fuel management failure, led to the global adoption of crew resource management, a safety protocol emphasizing team communication over traditional command hierarchies.
Modern PDX is defined by its focus on regional identity and passenger experience. The terminal, designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership, features a Northwest theme centered on the Columbia River. Beyond its aesthetics, the airport is known for unique amenities like a microcinema, a distillery, and a strict fair-pricing policy for vendors. In 2025, Condé Nast Traveler named it one of the world's most beautiful airports, capping off an 11-year expansion project that concluded in 2026 to improve flow and capacity for its 60 gates.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Portland International Airport
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