U. S.
A I R M A I L
In 1926 the United States Government designated an airmail route
from Elko, Nevada to Pasco, Washington, through Boise. To be on
the route, Boise was required to build a commercial airport. The
Chamber of Commerce provided the funding and the American
Legion provided the labor.
The airport was named Booth Field and was sited on the
east end of present-day Boise State University campus. The airmail
contract was awarded to Walter Varney of California, and on April
6, 1926 Varney Airlines began mail service to Boise.
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United Airlines Terminal circa 1930’s
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The following year Charles Lindbergh used this airport on his
national tour of state capitols; 40,000 Idahoans gathered to greet
him.
Boise Flying Club 1928
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A few years later, Varney Airlines merged into United Airlines and
full passenger service began on September 15, 1931.
First Airmail flight from Boise April 6, 1926 with Governor HC Baldridge and Boise Mayor Walter F. Hansen
Parks &
Recreation
The Boise River Greenbelt Historical Education Project was
produced in 1990 by the Ada County Centennial Committee
Col. Charles A. Lindbergh and his plane just a few
seconds after landing in Boise September 4, 1927
Charles Lindbergh with Governor Baldridge
Photos by permission of the Idaho Historical Society
1920: Barker Field
Before the first airport was built in Boise,
private planes landed at the fairgrounds and
military planes used the parade field at Boise
Barracks. Boise’s first private airfield was
built in 1920. It was located south of presentday Whitney School and was named Barker
Field. In 1925, the City Council began seeking
better land for a larger municipal airport but
could not raise the money. The solution to the
problem came from the Federal Government
in 1926 when Boise was selected as an airmail
route. With this came the incentive to raise
enough money to build an airport, and Boise
was on its way into the age of flight.
1938: Whitney Field
In 1938, trying to keep pace with the
changes in aircraft size, the city moved the
airport to its present location in order to
accommodate the new, larger DC-3. It was
named Whitney Field. The old Booth Field
was closed and with the city’s purchase
of additional property became the site of
Boise Junior College, now Boise State
University. Whitney Field was leased to the
Army during World War II and was renamed
Gowen Field. When it reverted back to
city operation in 1949, the terminal was
enlarged. It was expanded again in the
early 2000’s.