Houston's 1940 Air Terminal Seeks Path to Reopening

A phase III Texas Historical Commission assessment brings the historic Houston facility a step closer to reopening.

Matt Ryan

Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 09:43 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: Zach Vasile

[Credit: 1940 Air Terminal Museum]

Key Takeaways:

The Texas Historical Commission has advanced Houston’s 1940 Air Terminal Museum to a Phase III assessment for potential inclusion in its Historic Sites Program, which would make it the state's first aviation-focused historical site.
This recommendation follows the museum's recent suspension of operations due to severe financial challenges, despite being a historically significant Art Deco building listed on the National Register.
Phase III will address critical issues such as lease and partnership structures with the City of Houston, rehabilitation scope and costs, and other operational considerations required for the museum's potential reopening and necessary upgrades.

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The Texas Historical Commission has recommended advancing Houston’s 1940 Air Terminal Museum to a Phase III assessment for potential inclusion in the agency’s Historic Sites Program. The move, announced Monday, is a continuation of a review process that began in late 2025.

This comes weeks after the museum suspended operations, citing financial challenges. If completed, the process would position the Art Deco terminal as the first aviation-focused site in the state historical program. Phase III is expected to address lease and partnership structures with the City of Houston, along with rehabilitation scope, costs and other operational considerations for a reopened 1940 Air Terminal Museum.

Located adjacent to William P. Hobby Airport, the former Houston Municipal Airport terminal opened in 1940 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building later became a museum focused on early airline operations and developments in Houston. The 1940 Air Terminal Museum houses a collection that includes historic aircraft, airline artifacts, aviation archives and educational materials, and has drawn support from local academic institutions and aviation stakeholders for expanded programming.

According to the commission’s assessment so far, the property maintains its architectural integrity but requires upgrades, including improvements related to accessibility and infrastructure.

The museum’s board announced the closure earlier this month.

“It is with profound sadness that we share some very difficult news: The 1940 Air Terminal Museum will be ceasing operations until further notice,” the board said in a statement at the time.

Leadership attributed the shutdown to financial challenges, describing a “perfect storm of financial pressures” and noting that “the museum’s revenues simply do not match its expenses.”

Houston Mayor John Whitmire also said at the time that discussions with the Texas Historical Commission were ongoing, telling CultureMap Houston that officials were exploring “opportunities to support the museum’s operations in ways that enhance the public experience.”