This Day in Henrico History: Oct. 15 – Byrd Field opened with Lindbergh visit in 1927

On October 15, 1927, Byrd Field officially opened in Eastern Henrico County, with famed aviator Charles A. Lindbergh arriving for the occasion in the Spirit of St. Louis. The airport was named for explorer and aviator Richard E. Byrd and eventually became Richmond International Airport.

Henrico County’s official historical milestones list confirms the opening date and states that Lindbergh circled and landed his aircraft during the ceremonies. The Valentine museum’s photographic history of Henrico also places Lindbergh at the dedication on October 15.

The event came just months after Lindbergh’s celebrated solo transatlantic flight, making his appearance a major attraction for the new airfield. The city of Richmond had purchased land in Sandston in eastern Henrico and financed the airport’s construction, according to the Valentine’s historical account.

Opening an airfield reflected the growing importance of aviation to commerce, transportation and regional identity. The facility’s original name honored Byrd, whose polar exploration had also made him an internationally known figure. The airport’s location in Henrico meant that the region’s air travel gateway was established outside Richmond’s city limits.

The name and facilities changed as air travel expanded. What began as Byrd Field became the modern Richmond International Airport, still located in Henrico. The October 15 anniversary marks the dedication of the original field, not the later construction of the airport’s present terminal buildings.

Sources: https://henrico.gov/history/recent-history/400th-anniversary/henricos-milestones/; https://artsandculture.google.com/story/into-focus-henrico-county-through-the-camera-the-valentine-richmond-history-center/FwWxxLtAqgIA8A?hl=en