Naval Air Station Moffett Field, Hanger No. 1, Cummins Avenue, Moffett Field, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara County, CA

Significance: In the nation's quest to provide security for the lengthy expanse of its coastlines the opportunity for air reconnaissance was realized by the futuristic Admiral William A. Moffett. Through his efforts, two Naval Air Stations (NAS) were commissioned in the early 1930s to port the two U.S. Naval Airships (dirigibles) he believed capable of this challenge. The NAS Sunnyvale was the Pacific Coast location selected, designed, and developed to port the U.S.S. MACON (ZRS 5). The immense structure, Hangar 1, designed to house the U.S.S. MACON, with its larger counterpart in Akron, OH, remain the two largest structures in the US without internal support. At the onset of WWII, the base was expanded with Hangars 2 & 3 which were designed to accommodate the smaller blimps and balloons used for reconnaissance, until the range of heavier than air aircraft (airplanes) was sufficient to patrol the coast...
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N1117
Survey number: HAER CA-335-A
Building/structure dates: 1933 Initial Construction
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 94000045