Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis Celebrates National Recognition of Pan American Airways Historic District

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis today welcomed the announcement by Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd that the Pan American Airways Historic District along NW 36th Street at Miami International Airport has been officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“This is a proud moment for District 6 and especially for our neighbors in Miami Springs and Virginia Gardens,” said Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis. “These communities grew alongside Miami International Airport and helped shape Miami’s role as a global aviation center. Today’s recognition honors that history and the families who built their lives around it.”

The designation includes five historic structures that tell the story of American aviation. Hangar 5, built in 1929, marks the founding site of Pan American World Airways. Hangars 6 and 7 were constructed in 1943 and used during World War II to train mechanics supporting wartime aviation operations. The LAD “Taj Mahal” headquarters and maintenance complex, completed in 1964 and designed by Steward-Skinner in a New Formalist and Modernist style, helped power the jet age. The Flight Academy, added in 1980 in a Brutalist design, continued the district’s aviation training legacy.

Located at the gateway to Miami Springs and Virginia Gardens, the district reflects the era when Miami became the launch point for international aviation. Pan Am helped establish global routes, supported the wartime Cannonball route, and turned Miami into a leading aviation hub that fueled jobs and economic opportunity across the region.

“Preserving this history matters because it tells the story of how our community helped connect America to the world,” Commissioner Orbis added. “As District 6 continues to grow, we will protect the landmarks that define who we are while building new opportunities for the next generation of working families.”

Across Florida, more than 1,700 historic properties and 295 districts are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

— Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis
Miami-Dade County, District 6