Where Legends Took Flight

As the city moves forward with the public process to determine the future of the Santa Monica Airport, the Conservancy invites you to explore the pivotal moments and remarkable people that shaped its century-long legacy.

Santa Monica Mosaic returns September 27 with a special two-part livestream series, Final Approach: The Past and Future of Santa Monica Airport.
RSVP to this Free Event: https://smc.givecloud.co/airportlegends

From its beginnings as Clover Field, Santa Monica Airport has played an extraordinary role in shaping how the world flies.

Part One: Where Legends Took Flight revisits groundbreaking milestones, from the first successful flight around the world and the Women’s “Powder Puff” Air Derby to the development of the Douglas DC-3, which revolutionized commercial air travel.

We’ll then reflect on the airport’s lasting impact, from the growth of its artist community and the founding of the Ninety-Nines organization for women pilots to the 1983 gathering of volunteer aviators who came together to transport families in need of medical care, regardless of distance.

Host Libby Motika welcomes Nina Fresco, historian and author of First Around the World, Gregg Chadwick, airport artist-in-residence, and Cheri Cimmarrusti, associate executive director at Angel Flight West, for a lively conversation illustrated with historic photographs of the pioneering pilots, designers, engineers, and workers who made a mark on global aviation.

Part Two: Charting the Course Ahead will air on November 15, with Santa Monicans exploring various perspectives for the future of the historic airport.