Pan-Am Worldport-JFK Airport-Demolition-NYC

Despite the efforts of Save the Worldport, this photograph captured by Untapped Cities’ Laura Itzkowitz shows the fate of the once iconic Pan-AM Worldport Terminal at JFK Airport. Worldport was the first home of the Boeing 707, of Pan-Am and where The Beatles departed from America in 1964.

Our earlier policy piece on the preservation of the Worldport Pan-Am Terminal at JFK Airport elicited a lot of strong reactions on both sides. Our piece was intended to highlight the unlikelihood this terminal would be saved based on criteria for listing on the National Register of Historical Places. At the same time, we acknowledged that there was a strong emotional connection these buildings, and other Jet Age terminals like the TWA Flight Center and the (now demolished) I.M. Pei terminal have.

You can still visit the Eero Saarinen TWA Flight Center over Open House New York weekend this Saturday and Sunday, check out our 2013 guide to the events.