Tustin Legacy keeps the blimp hangar story visible

Tustin has a landmark that almost looks unreal when you learn the size. The former air station hangars were built in 1942. Each one was about 17 stories high, more than 1,000 feet long, and about 300 feet wide.

Their scale came from a wartime job: housing lighter-than-air craft. The two nearly all-wood structures later earned recognition as historic civil engineering landmarks of the 20th century. Even in a region full of large buildings, they stand out.

Marine Corps Air Station Tustin operated for more than 50 years and closed in 1999. The surrounding Tustin Legacy area covers about 1,600 acres. So the hangar story is also a city planning story. It is military history, engineering history, redevelopment, and community debate in one place.

The North Hangar was almost completely destroyed by a November 2023 fire, and remaining portions are being demolished. The South Hangar remains standing while future use is evaluated. Because ownership, cleanup, and public access are active topics, follow city updates rather than assuming you can get close or go inside.