http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempelhof_Central_Airport
We had an interesting opportunity to take a tour of Tempelhof Airport on Saturday, the day before a referendum vote about whether to keep it open or not. The referendum did not get enough votes in favor of keeping it open so it looks likes it probably will close in the fall (see first article). It's historical because the U.S. Airforce used it after WWII all the way until 1994. So, between that, turning over Am Hegewinkel, and the sale of Truman Plaza, we are really seeing some of the last remaining reminders of the former U.S. military presence disappear. It's a good thing but also a little bit sad--the end of an era, really. The entire area of Zehlendorf (where the Clayallee Consulate is) was all the American sector and there used to be a huge military presence.
This is a picture of Tempelhof in its heyday.
This is the top of what used to be a grand entrance, several stories high. The entrance was never used the way it was designed and instead a fake ceiling was installed, and the tops of the pillars were used for marble. This is the view from the second floor (floor is the false ceiling).
We got to go out on the roof and view the airfield.
A plane taxing down the runway about to take off.
Paintings on the walls in the bomb shelter.
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