Hangar One (Mountain View, California)

Hangar One (Mountain View, California) is a landmark airship hangar located at Moffett Federal Airfield near Mountain View, California on the San Francisco Bay peninsula. Erected in the early 1930s to house the rigid airships of the United States Navy, the structure has been associated with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Curtiss-Wright Corporation, and later NASA Ames Research Center. The hangar's immense volume, historic association with USS Macon (ZRS-5), and complex environmental remediation have made it notable in preservation, aviation, and environmental policy circles.

History

Hangar One was commissioned in 1931 by the United States Navy as part of the Moffett Field complex to support the USS Macon (ZRS-5) and related airship operations. Construction in 1932–1933 involved contractors including Curtiss-Wright Corporation and components supplied by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company; the hangar opened amid the Great Depression era federal projects. Following the loss of USS Macon (ZRS-5) in 1935, the facility transitioned to support Naval Air Station Sunnyvale operations, World War II activities, and Cold War research. After transfer to NASA Ames Research Center in the 1990s, the site hosted programs tied to Ames Research Center missions, Lockheed Martin collaborations, and regional aviation initiatives. Ownership and stewardship have involved Department of Defense, General Services Administration, and local agencies including City of Mountain View and Santa Clara County.

Architecture and Design

The hangar exemplifies early 20th-century large-span construction techniques, with a steel truss frame and lightweight skin designed to enclose enormous volume for rigid airship operations. Its dimensions rival other landmark shells such as the Hangar One (Lakehurst Naval Air Station) and contemporaneous hangars used by Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation; the clear-span allows unobstructed interior space similar to designs by Buckminster Fuller and engineering firms of the era. Exterior cladding originally combined galvanized metal panels and insulation systems produced by companies like Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, while interior structural detailing reflected standards from American Society of Civil Engineers publications and federal procurement of the Works Progress Administration era. Architectural assessments by Historic American Engineering Record and preservationists have compared its scale to facilities at Palmdale, Moffett Field Historic District, and other aviation heritage sites.

Environmental Contamination and Cleanup

Investigations in the late 20th and early 21st centuries discovered that the hangar's exterior skin and sealants contained polychlorinated biphenyls associated with materials procured during the mid-20th century; testing involved agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, California Environmental Protection Agency, and Naval Facilities Engineering Command. Contamination concerns prompted debates among NASA, United States Navy, General Services Administration, and local governments about remediation strategies, cost allocation, and historic preservation mandates under laws like the National Historic Preservation Act and consultation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Cleanup plans considered removal of contaminated cladding, encapsulation approaches favored by National Park Service guidelines, and Superfund-style oversight; contractors and consultants including private environmental firms and engineering teams developed Environmental Impact Statements reviewed by regulatory bodies.

Restoration and Adaptive Reuse

Restoration proposals have ranged from full exterior recladding to partial preservation of historic fabric, with adaptive reuse concepts proposed by entities such as Google and regional development partners. Adaptive reuse scenarios examined by NASA Ames Research Center and the City of Mountain View encompassed technology incubation space, research facilities tied to Stanford University collaborations, aviation museum functions akin to exhibits at the National Air and Space Museum, and mixed public-private innovation campuses similar to redevelopments involving Lockheed Martin or Boeing subsidiaries. Funding and stewardship negotiations have involved Google's philanthropic commitments, federal funding mechanisms, state historic tax incentives administered by California State Historic Preservation Officer, and grant programs from organizations like the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Structural rehabilitation required coordination with seismic retrofitting standards promulgated by the California Building Standards Commission and engineering oversight from specialist firms accredited by the American Institute of Architects.

Cultural Significance and Media Appearances

Hangar One has appeared in regional cultural narratives and national media, serving as backdrop in documentaries about airship history, segments produced by PBS, and photo features in outlets such as National Geographic. Filmmakers and photographers have used the space for shoots associated with Hollywood, including productions that referenced 20th Century Studios aesthetics and visual projects by independent studios. The hangar figures in oral histories collected by institutions like Smithsonian Institution affiliates and the California Historical Society, and it features in heritage tourism literature alongside sites like Moffett Field Historic District and the San Francisco Bay Trail. Public events and open houses organized with NASA, the City of Mountain View, and preservation groups have reinforced its standing as an icon of aviation heritage in Silicon Valley.

Category:Buildings and structures in Mountain View, California Category:Aviation history of the United States