In celebration of the 50th annual Airliners International show and convention, held in Denver, CO, June 24-27, this article for the Captain’s Log of the World Airline Historical Society covers Denver’s main airport as illustrated on postcards.
From 1929 to February 1995, Denver’s primary airport was located at what was eventually named “Stapleton International Airport.” On February 28, 1995, Stapleton was closed to flights and replaced by an entirely new airport: “Denver International Airport (DEN).”
Denver’s primary airport opened on October 17, 1929, as “Denver Municipal Airport.” It was called the “Union Station of the Air” and claimed to be the most modern in the U.S. at the time. The two main airlines serving Denver in the 1930s were United and Continental.
After a 1944 expansion, the airport’s name was changed to Stapleton Airfield in honor of Denver Mayor Benjamin Stapleton, who strongly supported the development of Denver Airport.
United Air Lines Douglas DC-4s at Denver Stapleton Airport, about 1946. “Real photo” postcard by Ralph Morgan, Denver, no. 14. The original terminal building and control tower can be seen in the rear center.
United Air Lines Douglas DC-6 at Denver Stapleton Airport, early 1950s. Pub’r Elmer C. Clark, Denver; Printer E. C. Kropp Co., Milwaukee, no. 28059N, ‘linen’ finish. The card back says “Stapleton Field is considered one of the finest fields in the West and has some 67 flights per day to supply prompt service to all parts of the United States.”
Front of Denver Stapleton Airport terminal building, early 1950s. Pub’r Colourpicture, Boston, no. P5495.
Frontier Airlines Douglas DC-3 at Denver Stapleton Airport, with United and Continental aircraft in rear. Airline issue, 1950s. The original Frontier Airlines was formed in 1950 by a merger of Arizona Airways, Challenger Airlines, and Monarch Airlines, and was headquartered at Stapleton Airport. It ceased operations on August 24, 1986.
Denver Stapleton Airport’s new six-story control tower, completed in June 1953, with United Air Lines aircraft on the ramp. Postmarked May 3, 1958. Pub’r Cooper Postcard Co., Lakewood CO, no. 51; Printer A. B. Hirschfeld Press, Denver.
Braniff Airways and Continental Airlines Convair aircraft, and two Douglas DC-3s, on ramp at Denver Stapleton Airport, 1956. Pub’r Cooper Post Card Co., Lakewood, Colorado, no. 6C-K327. Here you can see the terminal and concourse area, updated in 1954, and a passenger walkway viewing area. The main airlines serving Denver at that time were United, Continental, Braniff, Western, Frontier, TWA, and Central. Continental, like Frontier, had its headquarters at the time at Stapleton.
Continental Airlines Vickers Viscount at Denver Stapleton Airport, 1960s. Pub’r Colourpicture, Boston, no. P70865; dist’r G. R. Dickson Co., Denver. Here you can see the new iconic 12-story control tower that opened in 1962-63.
Although Stapleton Airport closed in 1995, its 12-story control tower still exists and is preserved as a historic landmark. The tower is now the home of FlyteCo Tower, an aviation-themed brewery and entertainment complex. The Doubletree Hotel, host for Airliners International 2026, is near the former Stapleton Airport area, and the show’s welcome reception will be held in the FlyteCo Tower, with tours of the tower available.
The jet age arrived in Denver in May 1959 when Continental Airlines started operating 707s into Stapleton Airport. My own very first flight was in December 1959 on a Continental 707 “Golden Jet” from Los Angeles (LAX) to Denver Stapleton. This postcard shows Continental Airlines Boeing 720, N57205, at Stapleton, with its tail bearing the classic Continental logo designed by Saul Bass and introduced in 1968. Pub’r Colourpicture, Boston, no. P87834; dist’r G. R. Dickson Co., Denver. The word “International” was added to Stapleton’s name in 1964.
A United Airlines Boeing 747-200 at Stapleton International Airport, in United’s “Friend Ship” livery with four stars, in use during 1972 – 1974. Pub’r Colourpicture, no. P308472; Distributed by G.R. Dickson Co., Denver.
Aerial view of Denver Stapleton International Airport, probably early 1980s. Pub’r Sanborn Souvenir, Denver; printed by Dexter Press, no. 57034-D. Ex Allan Van Wickler Coll’n. Here you see the “horseshoe” arrangement of the main terminal roadways and the two main concourses in the middle — Concourse B for United and Concourse C for Continental. The original concourse, A, is to the right; and Concourse D, built in 1972, is to the left. Later, in 1988, Concourse E opened to the left of the view in this postcard.
United Airlines aircraft at its Denver hub, Stapleton International Airport, probably in the 1980s. Printer Mike Roberts, Oakland, CA, nos. B16284/D-133; dist’r G. R. Dickson, Denver; photo by Arthur H. Bilsten. Boeing 727s and a 767 can be seen along with a Douglas DC-8. The double “U” logo on the United tails was designed by Saul Bass and introduced in 1974, and United operated the first commercial service of a 767, from Chicago to Denver Stapleton, in May 1982.
The rapid growth of Stapleton’s passenger traffic, coupled with the inability to acquire more land for expansion, led to the construction of a new primary airport for Denver. Following many years of planning and construction, Denver International Airport was finally ready. The last flight departed Stapleton on February 27, 1995, and Denver International Airport opened the next morning. Stapleton was decommissioned, and today the only remaining structure is the preserved 12-story control tower. The rest of Stapleton Airport is now a multipurpose development, including residences, businesses, and parks.
Today’s primary Denver airport, Denver International (DEN), which opened February 28, 1995, can only be described with superlatives. Its sheer size is overwhelming — 53 square miles (137.8 square km) of land, about twice the land area of Manhattan and about twice that of Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport. Its terminal, named after pioneering airline pilot and Denver native Elrey Jeppesen, contains 2.6 million square feet (241,548 square meters) of space and leads to over 170 gates. The terminal’s translucent white tented peaks, designed to simulate the Rocky Mountains in the background, look stunning from the air and impressive from ground level.
Denver International now has six non-intersecting runways. Five are 12,000 ft. (3657m) each in length. The sixth runway (16R/34L) is 16,000 ft. (4875m), over three miles long, the longest commercial runway in North America. That extra length is particularly useful because of Denver’s mile-high elevation and summer heat. Moreover, because of the airport’s enormous land area, it has room to add up to six additional runways if and when needed.
In 2025, over 82 million passengers passed through Denver International Airport, making it the 4th busiest airport in the U.S. and the world’s 10th busiest airport. Denver Airport expects further growth and has adopted a two-phase strategic plan – “Vision 100” to prepare the airport to serve 100 million passengers annually in the next several years, and “Operation 2045” for an expected 120 million+ passengers by its 50th anniversary in 2045.
Denver International Airport opened on February 28, 1995, replacing Denver Stapleton International Airport. As seen in this postcard, the white tented peaks of the airport’s Jeppesen Terminal stand out impressively, with the Rocky Mountains in the background and a United Airlines plane climbing after takeoff. Publ’r Sanborn Ltd., Commerce City, Colorado; photo by Ron Ruhoff.
Denver International Airport at dusk. The translucent Teflon-covered fiberglass roof pinnacles of the Jeppesen Terminal create a lighted beacon effect at night. The airport logo appears in the lower left-hand corner. Pub’r Mountain States Specialties, Boulder, CO; Printer Mike Roberts, Oakland, CA, no. B20211.
Frontier Airlines aircraft at the west portion of Concourse A at Denver International Airport at sunrise, October 14, 2014. In front is Frontier Airbus A319, N951FR. No. 1 of seven postcards issued for Airliners International 2017 Denver; pub’r jjpostcards, Bassendorf, Switzerland; photo via Aaron Mandolesi.
Denver International Airport at sunset. Pub’r Impact Colorado no. 40281; Photo by Bob von Normann.
Postcard commemorating the 5th anniversary of Denver International Airport, February 28, 2000, showing the distinctive peaked Jeppesen Terminal illuminated by its spacious atrium. Issued by the Denver Department of Aviation.
Denver International Airport Jeppesen Terminal “billowing sails” art postcard issued by Denver Airport on its 10th Anniversary in 2005. Oversize.
Denver International Airport 25th Anniversary postcard, issued by the Denver Department of Aviation in 2020 for the Airport’s “Don’t Stop Believing” Exhibit in the Jeppesen Terminal.
Note: All postcards shown are from the author’s collection except the last one. I estimate their rarity as follows: Uncommon: the United DC-4s at Stapleton postcard and the three Denver International Airport anniversary postcards.
References:
The Denver International Airport website: flydenver.com
Airliners International 50th Anniversary Show and Convention, 2026 Denver
June 24-27, 2026, at the Doubletree Hotel, Quebec St., Denver, CO:
Details found at airlinersinternational.org, the convention website. Registrants can submit airline and airport postcard exhibits for display at the show; see the Postcard Exhibit Rules posted on the convention website.
