The first transcontinental passenger flight in 1929 ushered in a new era of air service. When the newly formed Transcontinental & Western Air (TWA) decided to move its base of operations in 1931, the selection committee, swayed by famed aviator Charles Lindberg, chose Kansas City as its new headquarters. The move helped establish the city as a national air hub and TWA as its hometown airline.

Art Lujin, a former manager of aircraft engineering during a nearly 25-year career with TWA and now a guide at Kansas City’s TWA Museum, recounts the airline’s history, impact on the airline industry, and indelible place in our city’s aviation annals. He further details many aspects of the monumental technological growth of aviation in the 20th century and TWA’s contributions and innovations.

This presentation is co-presented by the TWA Museum of Kansas City and coincides with the exhibition Nearest by Air to Everywhere on display at the Central Library through January 2024.