Hangar 9
Also known as: Edward H. White II Museum
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Why it's listed
Hangar Nine is a wood frame aircraft hangar at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. The government built it in 1918 as a temporary structure, one of sixteen Army Air Service hangars at Brooks Field during World War I. It is now the only one of those hangars that survives, and is probably the oldest existing aircraft hangar at any United States military base. The main building has a nearly flat bolted wood truss roof in a modified gambrel form, large sliding wooden end doors made of diagonally braced panels, and braced wood side walls with stacked double sash windows. Brooks Field trained primary military aviators, including Charles Lindbergh and several later Air Force Chiefs of Staff, while instructors included Claire Chennault. The hangar was renamed the Edward H. White II Museum for the family of the first American to walk in space. Texas designated it a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1967, and local citizens raised funds to restore it.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it probably the oldest existing aircraft hangar at any United States military base and the only surviving example of sixteen Army Air Service hangars built at Brooks Field in World War I. It is tied to the primary flight training of many noted pilots. It was also renamed for its association with the White family, including astronaut Edward H. White II.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 70000895, listed May 21, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Brooks Air Force Base Inner Circle Rd., San Antonio |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | May 21, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000895 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1918 |
| Areas of significance | Military, Transportation |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 8, 1976 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition and altered, on its original site; a restoration to its original condition was being funded by San Antonio citizens, with the intent to serve as an early aviation museum. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.34397, -98.44394 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 70000895.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5647897
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.