1911  

A cinder-covered landing strip in a marshy pasture called Basque Flats (after the Spanish-French sheepherders in the area) was the rudimentary beginning of the airport. It was originally used for aerobatic flights and was the site of the "Great International Aviation Carnival."

1920  

Salt Lake City purchased 100 acres surrounding the landing strip for $40.00 per acre. The resulting airfield was named "Woodward Field," after local pilot John P. Woodward. World heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey was on hand to help christen the airfield, which was a mail service facility only.

1922  

Ken Unger opened Unger Aviation at Woodward Field.

1925  

A.R. "Tailspin Tommy" Thompson purchased the business and sponsored aerobatic shows at the fledgling airport.

1926  

The first commercial passenger flight took place at Woodward Field.  Ben F. Redman and J.A. Tomlinson perched atop U.S. mail sacks and flew with pilot C.N. "Jimmy" James on his regular eight-hour mail delivery flight to Los Angeles.  This Western Air Express operation was the beginning of Western Airlines, which later merged with Delta Air Lines.

1927  

Charles "Lucky Lindy" Lindbergh made a stopover at Woodward Field.  Salt Lake City residents had an opportunity to see his "Spirit of St. Louis," the first monoplane to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

1930  

Woodward Field was renamed "Salt Lake City Municipal Airport."  It consisted of 400 acres, 11 hangars and two gravel runways.

1933  

At a cost of $52,000, Salt Lake City built an airport administration building that housed a passenger waiting room, mail room, airport manager's office, lunch room, weather observatory, radio control room and leased office space to airlines.  A third runway was also added.

1943  

The airport became a training base and replacement depot for the U.S. Air Force.  Salt Lake City Municipal Airport II was built at the southwest end of the Salt Lake Valley to accommodate the number of trainees.

1950s

The jet age ushered in major improvements including upgrading of the three runways to support the largest commercial jet aircraft, and equipping the primary runway with a Category II Instrument Landing System (ILS).

1960

A new terminal building (currently Terminal One) was dedicated.  It was a seven-year $8,000,000 improvement project.

1968  

The airport was renamed the "Salt Lake City International Airport."

1975  

From 1975 to 1980 the airport grew to 7,500 acres.

1978  

Terminal Two was completed to house Western Airlines.  A new Executive Terminal was also completed that year on the east side of the airport to serve general aviation needs and house various agencies.  The west runway and taxiway systems were extended.

1981  

Terminal One was expanded and remodeled.

1982  

Western Airlines made Salt Lake City an operational hub, requiring additional facility upgrades.

1984  

Terminal Two was expanded to accommodate an additional concourse.

1985  

Ground access improvements were completed, runways were rehabilitated and support facilities were built.

1987  

Western Airlines merged with Delta Air Lines.  The hub operation was expanded and additional facilities were required.

1991  

A four-level, short-term parking terrace and an 18-hole golf course, Wingpointe, were built.

1992 

 A hangar and training facility for SkyWest Airlines opened.

1994  

A building to house the National Weather Service on the airport's east side was opened.

1995  

A third air carrier runway, Concourse E and the International Terminal were completed.

1996  

Southwest Airlines opened a reservations center.

1997  

A regional Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighter Training Center was built.

1998  

United Parcel Service became the first tenant in the north cargo complex with a new processing facility.

1999 
The Federal Aviation Administration opened a new air traffic control tower and terminal radar approach control facility.  Fire Station #11 was relocated to the east side of the airfield and the airport interior received major renovation.