Dane County Regional

A Legacy of Private Aviation

MSN originated in 1927, with 290 acres of land purchased by the City of Madison (which at the time was used as a cabbage patch for a nearby sauerkraut factory). In January 1936, a Works Progress Administration grant was accepted, which allowed for the construction of four runways and an airplane hangar, while additional financing allowed for the construction of the terminal and administrative buildings, as well as the installation of electric floodlights (at the cost of $1 million, with 10% paid by the city and the rest by the federal government). In June 1942, the airport was renamed Truax Field and activated as a U.S. Army Air Corps airfield. It was used during WWII as an Army Air Corps Eastern Technical Training Center, a school training radio operators, and mechanics. The airport later expanded to training in radio operations, control tower operations, and other communications fields. On September 17th, 1945, the airfield’s mission was changed to that of a separation center, and on November 30th, 1945, the field was closed as an active Army Air Force field. Following its closure, the field was conveyed back to local civil authorities. The Madison Municipal Airport became home to the 1st Battalion 147th Aviation Regiment, while it is now also home to the Wisconsin National Guard and its 115th fighter wing (one of the 14 operational air defense units responsible for air defense of the eastern continental U.S. A new, 31,000-square-foot terminal building was completed on December 15th, 1966 (at the cost of $2.36 million). This followed the arrival of the first jets in 1956 in the form of Northwest Orient Boeing 727s. Furthermore, the airport tripled in size in 1986, with the terminal expanding from 32,000 square feet to 90,000 square feet, which included the addition of a second-level concourse with six boarding bridges (at the cost of $12 million). In 2006 the terminal was expanded again, doubling in size (for $68 million). The new terminal allows for 13 gates with jetways, WiFi, additional restaurant and retail space post-security, lounges, and more. The terminal was built in a Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced prairie style. In 2014, the airport expanded its parking options, whereas, on February 7th, 2018, a significant terminal modernization program was announced, which would include the replacement of existing jet bridges, as well as the construction of additional jet boarding bridges and the addition of an 8 MW solar energy site on airport-owned land.