PHOTOS: Long Beach officials seal a time capsule, play pickleball at ‘America’s coolest airport’
City leaders gathered for the final centennial year celebration of Long Beach Airport and announced the acquisition of a trademark officially making it the ‘coolest’ airport in the country.
City officials celebrated Long Beach Airport’s centennial year one last time Thursday by sealing a time capsule inside the historic terminal building and playing a few games of pickleball on temporary courts now open to the public.
The metal time capsule was stuffed with all sorts of items, including a Long Beach hat, a Dodgers 2024 World Series championship shirt, a 3D-printed model from aerospace company JetZero, various letters and challenge coins, and over 60 other mementos, trinkets and memorabilia. (See the full list below.)
“I’m excited about time capsules. I think they’re very cool,” said Mayor Rex Richardson, who is 41 years old. “I hope I’m alive and still around when this thing is opened.”
The time capsule will be sealed within a wall of the historic terminal building for 50 years, officials said.
During the event, airport Director Cynthia Guidry also announced the city had acquired the trademark for a new slogan: “America’s coolest airport.” The phrase has been used by officials before but Richardson said the trademark makes it official.
“We love that it captures everything that we want to be for our travelers and our community,” Guidry said.
To close out the celebration, officials played the inaugural games on popup pickleball courts to the north of the historic terminal building. The two courts, courtesy of the city’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine, are available for travelers to blow off some steam for free. Airport spokesperson Kate Kuykendall said the popup does not have a set end date, but will remain open throughout the holiday season.
“I don’t know if pickleball is cool,” Richardson joked, “but it’s definitely different. We’re going to redefine pickleball as cool.”
Items sealed in the Long Beach Airport’s centennial time capsule:
- LGB Time Capsule Committee Letter
- Letter from Airport Director Cynthia Guidry
- Letter from Mayor Rex Richardson
- Letter from City Manager Tom Modica Letter from Councilwoman Megan Kerr
- Letter from Councilman Daryl Supernaw
- Letter from Historical Society
- Poem by Brian Sonia-Wallace
- Southwest Airlines: Pin, Cell Phone Holder, Bag Tag, Backpack
- Hawaiian Airlines model plane
- Delta Airlines model plane
- TSA: Challenge Coin
- JetZero: Model Plane
- Ampaire: Collectible Coin
- Aeroplex: Mug and Badge Holder
- Atlantic Aviation: Scarf and Whistle
- Long Beach Marathon: 40th Anniversary Medal
- Air Traffic Control Tower: Signed Photo and Pen
- Flight Safety: Lego Model Simulator
- Sky Knight: Pin
- LA County Sheriff: Aero Patch, Stickers and Photos
- Long Beach Police Department: Pin, Photos and Patch
- Federal Air Marshall: Pin
- Mayor's Office: Challenge Coin
- City Manager's Office: Challenge Coin and Civic Center Groundbreaking Coaster
- Council District Map
- Convention & Visitors Bureau: Hat and Shirt
- Beach Sand
- Long Beach Employee ID Badge
- Long Beach Airfield Driving Permit
- Printed Boarding Pass
- Runway Lights (replaced with sustainable LEDs)
- Therapy Dog Trading Cards
- Selected News Articles
- Utilities 2025 Calendar
- 100th Historic Report Summary
- 100th Anniversary Poster Series
- 100th Anniversary Tote Bag
- Long Beach Airport Staff Photo
- Long Beach Airport Staff Phone Directory
- Airspace Maps from Pilot Shop
- Economic Report Summary Brochure
- Coloring Book Pages
- Festival of Flight 2024 Challenge Coin
- Festival of Flight 2024 Stickers
- Dodgers Championship Merch
- Paradies Menus
- Careers Taking Flight Photo
- Airport Trading Cards
- Flight Route Map
- Flight Schedule (November 2024)
- Airport Budget
- October Passenger Traffic Report
- Aerial Shot of Airport Layout
- Greetings from Long Beach Airport Mug
- Airport Retro Magnet
- Ticketing Lobby Bag Tag
- Balsa Wood Toy Airplane
- Blow Up Beach Ball
- Branded Pen/Flashlight
- Golf Balls
- Suitcase Magnet
- Photographs
- Artist Grace Clements Photo and Copy of Letter from 1941
- LGB Ad in Magazine
- Gas/Fuel Pricing
- Historic Terminal Self-Guided Tour Sheet America's coolest airport Pin America's coolest airport Shirt America's coolest airport Sticky Notes
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