Lowry AFB

• Established in 1938: Lowry Air Force Base (AFB) was officially activated in 1938, originally serving as a technical training center for the United States Army Air Corps. • Named After a WWI Pilot: The base was named in honor of Lt. Francis B. Lowry, a Denver native who was killed in action during World War I. • Training Center for Presidents: Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and George W. Bush both underwent training at Lowry AFB during their military careers. • Home of the Air Force Academy (Temporary): From 1955 to 1958, Lowry AFB served as the interim home for the first few classes of the U.S. Air Force Academy before its permanent campus in Colorado Springs was completed. • National Security Agency (NSA) Presence: The base hosted a significant NSA cryptologic training detachment, reflecting its role in intelligence operations during the Cold War. • Ballistic Missile Training: Lowry AFB became a primary training site for the United States’ first generation of missileers, including those assigned to the Titan and Minuteman ICBM programs. • Historic Hangars: The base featured two massive hangars originally built for the U.S. Navy’s dirigible program in the 1930s. These hangars were relocated from Illinois and became iconic structures at Lowry. • Military Photography School: The Air Force’s primary school for aerial and photographic reconnaissance was located at Lowry, training thousands of military photographers over several decades. • Closure and Redevelopment: Lowry AFB was officially closed in 1994 as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program, and the site has since been redeveloped into a thriving residential and commercial community. • Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum: One of the former hangars now houses the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, preserving Lowry’s aviation legacy and serving as a major tourist attraction in Denver.