Original 1931 Baton Rouge Airport Beacon

This beacon identified Baton Rouge's first Municipal Airport

located at Government St. and Lobdell Rd. It was used during the

"Golden Age of Aviation" that followed Charles Lindbergh's 1927

Transatlantic flight and fostered the modern commercial and general

aviation industries. The "Golden Age" ended at the beginning of

World War II. This beacon was a primary local navigation aid for

piloting to the city and a critical check-point for flyers traveling

across the gulf coast. By light of this beacon the original airport

opened to the public on June 20. 1931. followed by the first

scheduled U.S. Postal Service Air Mail Contract, CAM 29 and

passenger airline service to serve Baton Rouge operated by

American Airways on that original airfield. This beacon served

our vibrant general aviation community from the opening until the

original airfield was closed in the mid-1970s. The Governor's

Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Planning, and the

Louisiana State Police Headquarters now occupy the original

airport site. Beacon restoration funded courtesy of BTR Jet Center.