Gallery: Fascinating Images Reveal the Genesis of the TWA Flight Center, America's Greatest Terminal

  • Image may contain Airport Vehicle Transportation Car Automobile Airplane Aircraft Building and Architecture
    Dan Page / Eero Saarinen Collection (MS 593). Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library
    01

    2-DesigningTWA-p-2-3-TWA-Terminal

    Eero Saarinen's TWA Flight Center was a striking response to the expanding popularity of jet travel.
  • Image may contain Diagram Plan Plot Transportation Vehicle Aircraft and Airplane
    Eero Saarinen Collection (MS 593). Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library
    02

    4-DesigningTWA-p-44-drawing

    Saarinen's preliminary design showed seamlessly connected baggage and passenger handling stations.
  • Image may contain Plywood Wood Hangar Building Furniture and Chair
    Richard G. Knight / Richard Gamble Knight Papers (MS 1999). Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library
    03

    7-DesigningTWA-p-71-Models-TWA

    Saarinen had to lease a studio big enough for the scale models of the terminal he had in mind.
  • Image may contain Furniture Chair Human Person Wood Leisure Activities Floor Musical Instrument Piano and Plywood
    Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Balthazar Korab Archive at the Library of Congress
    04

    10-DesigningTWA-p-96-model-TWA

    Since each airline had its own terminal at the airport, he wanted TWA's home to stand out.
  • Image may contain Banister Handrail Hot Tub Tub and Jacuzzi
    Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Balthazar Korab Archive at the Library of Congress
    05

    12-DesigningTWA-p-134-135-Interior-TWA

    Like the exterior, the terminal's interior was made up of sweeping curves—no right angles, minimal corners.
  • Image may contain Furniture Chair Vehicle Car Transportation Automobile and Couch
    Illustrator unknown / Eero Saarinen Collection (MS 593). Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library
    06

    9-DesigningTWA-p-75-drawing-interior

    Inside the terminal, areas like the "Ambassador Lounge" were designed for passenger comfort, and to conform to TWA's corporate look.
  • Image may contain Banister Handrail Staircase Stage and Building
    Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Balthazar Korab Archive at the Library of Congress
    07

    8-DesigningTWA-p-74-model-interior

    The red carpets and upholstery, shown in this model, added splashes of color to an otherwise light grey or white interior space.
  • Image may contain Road Building Freeway Bridge Architecture and Concrete
    Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division,Balthazar Korab Archive at the Library of Congress
    08

    11-DesigningTWA-p-101-Building-site-TWA

    TWA eagerly promoted the new terminal during its design and construction.
  • Image may contain Vehicle Transportation Aircraft Airplane Human Person Building and Architecture
    Illustrator unknown / Kornel Ringli Collection
    09

    3-DesigningTWA-p-23-Restaurant-menu

    The Flight Center double as advertising for the airline, which even used its image as the cover for its restaurant menu.
  • Image may contain Diagram Plan Plot Bird and Animal
    Eero Saarinen Collection (MS 593). Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library
    10

    13-DesigningTWA-p-179-Section-elevation-departure-hall-TWA

    Saarinen planned all the interior details, like the arrivals and departures board.
  • Image may contain Human Person Lighting Banister and Handrail
    Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Balthazar Korab Archive at the Library of Congress
    11

    5-DesigningTWA-p-57-Arrival-departures-board

    That electronic signage became one of the building's coolest elements.
  • Image may contain Transportation Vehicle Automobile Car Taxi and Cab
    Teju Cole
    12

    14-DesigningTWA-p-218-TWA-building

    The terminal was decommissioned in 2001, and now may become a hotel.
  • Image may contain Human Person Footwear Clothing Shoe Apparel Pedestrian Airport Room Lobby and Indoors
    Melissa Murphy
    13

    1-DesigningTWA-backcover-terminal-interior

    In 2012, the public was invited to visit the closed space, and a new generation of air travelers eagerly showed up.
Read More
Newly Deciphered Sabotage Malware May Have Targeted Iran’s Nuclear Program—and Predates Stuxnet
Researchers have finally cracked Fast16, mysterious code capable of silently tampering with calculation and simulation software. It was created in 2005—and likely deployed by the US or an ally.
Andy Greenberg
Rednote Draws a Line Between China and the World
As the platform expands abroad, it’s taking steps to separate Chinese users from the international audiences it once brought together.
Zeyi Yang
Apple’s Next Chapter, SpaceX and Cursor Strike a Deal, and Palantir’s Controversial Manifesto
In this week’s episode of Uncanny Valley, we talk about Tim Cook’s legacy as CEO at Apple and what his long-rumored departure means for the future of one of the world's biggest companies.
Brian Barrett
At 'AI Coachella,' Stanford Students Line Up to Learn From Silicon Valley Royalty
CS 153 has gone viral on the Palo Alto campus—and on X. Not everyone is happy about it.
Maxwell Zeff
Palantir Employees Are Starting to Wonder if They're the Bad Guys
Interviews with current and former Palantir employees, along with internal Slack messages obtained by WIRED, suggest a workforce in turmoil.
Makena Kelly
This Is the Only Office Lamp That Does Double Duty on My Nightstand
Portable lamps are rarely, if ever, as powerful, precise, and multipurpose as the Lume Cube Edge Light Go.
Matthew Korfhage
These New Smart Glasses From Ex-OnePlus Engineers Have a Hidden Cost
The Kickstarter-funded glasses from L'Atitude 52°N have AI features bundled for one year, but the company doesn't know yet how much it will charge for access after that.
Boone Ashworth
The Best Pool-Cleaning Robots for a Truly Automated Summer
Send the pool guy packing. One of these robotic buddies can maintain your water quality instead.
Christopher Null
The Best Fitbit Models for Every Lifestyle
The fitness trackers I'd recommend to beginners, athletes, and kids.
Boutayna Chokrane
Robot Vacuums That Don't Suck (Unless It's Dirt)
Tired of vacuuming? Hand the reins to a robot vacuum.
Nena Farrell
They Made D4vd a Star. Now They Want Him Convicted of Murder
A legion of young fans propelled the singer D4vd to viral fame. Now that he’s been charged with the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, they say the clues were in their Discord all along.
Jennifer Swann
Your Shower Water Might Be Messing With Your Hair and Skin—These Filters Help
I tested leading filtered showerheads to see how well they remove total chlorine from your water.
Matthew Korfhage