The landmark clock tower that stood in the Domestic Terminal Atrium at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) for 33 years is gone.

For more than three decades the ATL clocktower served as a gathering point, a meeting spot and a helpful timepiece for travelers.

But time marches on. And ATL officials felt it was time for the clock tower to go so that the atirum can evolve “to meet the needs of the future.”

New exhibit honors 100 Years of Atlanta Airport

ATL’s iconic clocktower may be gone, but the new exhibit in the Transportation Mall between Concourses D & E on the Plane Train level is intended to be permanent.

Unveiled last week, the “Blue Skies: 100 Years of the Atlanta Airport” exhibition highlights the Airport’s century-long evolution from its first commercial flight in 1926 to its position as the world’s busiest airport.

The exhibit explores milestones such as the growth of Delta Air Lines, the Airport’s role during the Civil Rights Movement and the launch of Atlanta’s first nonstop international flight.

Travelers can also learn about ATL’s rise to the world’s busiest airport back in 1998, the airport’s role in the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games and the Airport’s ongoing expansion and modernization plans.

Featured artifacts include historic airline uniforms and signage – including a working flip board – a large-scale model of a Pitcairn Mailwing airmail plane, and an original rotating beacon that was once mounted on top of the airport’s control tower.

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