Randolph Air Force Base: Preserving the Showplace of the Air Force

Author(s): Laurie Zapalac; Casey Gallagher

Year: 2008

Summary

Twenty miles northeast of San Antonio, between the small cities of Live Oak, Shertz, Selma, and Universal City a true architectural and city planning masterpiece sits, protected from outsiders, and at first glance it seems, from time. Randolph Air Force Base, built in 1931, has endured the decades, providing a beautiful, yet functional setting for the training of a many of the Air Force pilots of the twentieth century. Randolph enjoys a prominent history, rich with accomplished architects, powerful Generals, and an incredibly talented Lieutenant. As a Historic Preservation case study, Randolph provides a unique example of continual and loving preservation, as well as innovative and effective adaptive reuse. A National Historic Landmark, as well as National Register listed Historic District, Randolph has successfully ridden the waves of change, gracefully adapting, yet keeping a traditional and elegant air. Today, it faces budgetary constraints that could impact its preservation in the future. Privatization of its large historic housing inventory, the pressures of an active Air Force Base, as well as a staff of one preservation officer combine to create a complicated situation for this “Showplace of the Air Force.”

Cite this Record

Randolph Air Force Base: Preserving the Showplace of the Air Force. Laurie Zapalac, Casey Gallagher. 2008 ( tDAR id: 405486) ; doi:10.48512/XCV8405486

Spatial Coverage

min long: -98.311; min lat: 29.507 ; max long: -98.246; max lat: 29.551 ;

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Cultural Resource Office, Joint Base San Antonio

Repository(s): Fort Sam Houston

File Information

  Name Size Creation Date Date Uploaded Access
2008-Randolph-Preserving-the-Showplace-of-the-Air-Force.pdf 5.17mb Apr 28, 2016 3:00:38 PM Confidential

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Contact(s): Cultural Resource Office, Joint Base San Antonio