11 Most Endangered
Hangar One, Moffett Field
Year Listed: 2008
Location: Santa Clara County, California
Current Status: Endangered
Threat: Deterioration, Neglect
Hangar One, Moffett Field
Enormous interior of Hangar One. Photo by Rick Callison.
Hangar One, Moffett Field
Hangar One with doors open, 1963. Photo by NASA.
Hangar One, Moffett Field
Massive doors of Hangar One. Photo by Rick Callison.
Hangar One, with its exceptional character, innovative design and technical virtuosity, has long been one of the most recognizable landmarks of California's Silicon Valley. This cavernous, dome-shaped structure, built in 1932 to house U.S. Navy dirigibles, measures 200 feet tall and covers more than 8 acres of land. Despite its historical and architectural significance, Hangar One's future now hangs in the balance.
What you can do
- If you're a Californian, write to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senators Feinstein and Boxer and Representative Eschoo requesting they encourage the Department of the Navy to consider an appropriate remediation alternative that will ensure retention and preservation of the structure.
- Join the Save Hangar One Yahoo group to stay informed and involved.
- Attend the Navy's public meeting on August 26 at 7:00 pm in Mountain View, CA to make your voice heard.
- Show your support on Facebook: become a fan of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and join the Save Hangar One! group.
- Help save Hangar One and other endangered places - donate to the 11 for the 11 Most Challenge.
A 2003 inspection revealed PCBs are leaking from Hangar One's metallic exterior. Although the Navy transferred Hangar One to NASA in 1994, it remains responsible for environmental remediation. The Navy is not, however, obligated to preserve the building and NASA cannot fund a potential restoration.
The Navy originally proposed to demolish Hangar One, which resulted in an outcry from local residents, preservation groups and elected officials. In response to this public opposition, the Navy agreed to prepare a revised Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis report to assess other viable solutions. While demolition is still a very real possibility, there are preservation-friendly alternatives, such as removal of the contaminated exterior skin and re-cladding it in other materials.
The effort to save Hangar One is now at a critical juncture. Even if complete demolition is avoided, it is anticipated that the Navy will recommend removing the interior structures as well as the skin of the building. This treatment will leave only a skeletal frame exposed to the elements. Advocates fear that this will lead to the slow deterioration and eventual loss of Hangar One. As the community awaits the Navy's final decision, a group of local citizens have formed the grass roots organization Save Hangar One. They continue to wage an effective campaign, coordinating information for the community and others on the status of the Navy's remediation plan and meeting notices. The group is also mobilizing efforts to have the Navy consider rehabilitating Hangar One for adaptive reuse or educational purposes.
"Hangar One is a true architectural landmark of Northern California and an undeniable anchor to Silicon Valley's sense of place," says Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "For a resource of this magnitude and rarity, preservation is crucial. It recalls a bygone era of early aviation and is one of the last visible links we have to the Golden Age of the Great Airships."
Hangar One is one of the largest remaining purpose-built hangars. Even today, it dominates the landscape, towering over an impressive array of 1930s-era Spanish Colonial Revival military buildings, which are now part of NASA's Ames Research Center. It is notable for its colossal Streamline Modern form, and is regarded as a significant catalyst in Silicon Valley's widespread contributions to aviation and space advancement as well as technology research and development. During World War II, it served as a docking station for the USS Macon, the largest aircraft in the world at the time. Hanger One is a contributing element of the Shenandoah Plaza National Historic District, which encompasses 124 acres and 25 structures. It is also individually eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
On July 30, 2008 the U.S. Navy Base Realignment and Closure Commission released its recommendation for removing hazardous materials from Hangar One. As preservationists feared, the Navy has chosen to remove the contaminated exterior sheathing of the hangar, coat the underlying skeleton, and leave the massive building a shell. The National Trust, our statewide partner the California Preservation Foundation, and the Save Hangar One Committee are working to ensure a better preservation outcome for Hangar One within the Navy’s environmental remediation process and the National Historic Preservation Act process. If you’re a Californian, you can help these efforts by contacting your California Congressman. Please see the sample letter and talking points under the “What You Can Do” Section.
For Press inquiries: http://press.nationaltrust.org/
