in 1936 whatcom county obtained for an airport at the current airport site. three runways were planned, but it took almost four years to get the first 5000' x 150' runway cleared and paved. temporary port of entry status was secured early, but the slow construction left it in a continually tenuous state – united airlines would only base there if the field were safe enough for their dc-3s, and it maintained its port of entry status. ultimately they built a terminal, designed by f. stanley piper, and the airport was dedicated in 1940, having employed more than 500 people.