Ryan Aeronautics Complex
- Project Address: 2831 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego
- Project Owner/ Developer: Port of San Diego
- Owner Contact Name/ Email: n/a
- Project Architect/ Designer: n/a
The Ryan complex adjacent to Lindbergh Field is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places yet the Port of San Diego has elected to demolish it and there isn't even a new use planned for the site!
From the first passenger flight from San Diego and the construction of the Spirit of St. Louis to World War II aircraft production to the Lunar Lander and, finally, the Tomahawk cruise missile, Ryan was there. T. Claude Ryan founded the first commercial airline to operate out of San Diego and developed our aerospace industries from the Ryan Aeronautical Company. He convinced city leaders to support the establishment of Lindbergh Field.
Ryan built the first buildings at Lindbergh Field, including the terminal and his first manufacturing plant in 1932, which still stands at the Ryan complex. This complex is among the most historic in San Diego and should be a Historic District. San Diego should honor Ryan's legacy by using some of these buildings to house large aircraft that the San Diego Air and Space Museum has no place to exhibit. These buildings are so large they could be used for parking or virtually anything else.
The Port of San Diego is thoughtlessly destroying our heritage, so they deserve an Onion. Shame on them!
Project Awarded
"This important historic district is a key part of San Diego’s aviation heritage, yet the San Diego Unified Port District has elected to demolish it. T. Claude Ryan constructed the first buildings at Lindbergh Field in 1932 only a few years after he designed and built “The Spirit of St. Louis.” The Port District is failing to incorporate these easily adaptable buildings into future development, preferring to simply tear them down."