Hangar One

Hangar One is a military hangar at Moffett Federal Airfield in Santa Clara County, measuring 1133 feet (345 meters) in length and 308 feet (94 meters) in width, among the largest freestanding buildings in California. The steel framework was designed to house massive airships and features a curved roof extending across the entire span.

The structure was built in 1933 under the direction of Karl Arnstein to house the naval airship USS Macon, which remained stationed here until its crash in 1935. After the airship era ended, the facility served other military and later civilian aviation projects.

The name recalls the era when this space served as home for naval airships, a chapter still remembered in local tours and regional storytelling. Many people in the surrounding area recognize the structure from outside and associate it with the Bay Area's long aviation tradition.

Access to the grounds is restricted since it sits on an active federal airfield, though the exterior remains visible from nearby public roads. The best viewing angles lie along the access routes to the airfield, where the full scale of the structure becomes clear.

The interior space is so large that fog can form near the ceiling under certain temperature conditions, a phenomenon seen in only a few buildings worldwide. The massive clamshell doors each weigh around 200 tons and were designed to minimize wind turbulence when airships moved in and out.

Location: Santa Clara County

Inception: 1933

Architects: Karl Arnstein

Length: 345.34 m

Width: 93.88 m

Part of: Ames Research Center

GPS coordinates: 37.41291,-122.05386

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:22