Have you ever imagined taking flight from a runway right next to downtown Chicago? The Meigs Field Control Tower, a squat, concrete structure, sits silently overlooking the bustling city and grassy expanse that was once Meigs Field. Built in 1948, it was vital to the operation of the airport. Before the controversial closure in 2003, pilots would come here for instructions, weather updates, and clearance for takeoff and landing. Today, the tower stands as a testament to a time when planes were a regular sight near the heart of Chicago.
It was considered to be one of the busiest airports in the United States, serving general aviation and commercial carriers alike. In fact, Meigs Field was the default airport for Microsoft Flight Simulator – a bit of trivia for the virtual pilots in the crowd. But Mayor Richard M. Daley, driven by a vision for a park in its place, closed the airport in a shocking pre-dawn raid that stunned the aviation community. He ordered bulldozers to carve giant Xs into the runway, effectively rendering it unusable. Despite protests and pleas from pilots, the airport was closed, and the land turned into Northerly Island Park. The Meigs Field Control Tower, though no longer operational, still stands as a poignant reminder of a bygone era of aviation in Chicago.