| The Santa Monica Freeway first opened in 1964 | | | | transportation numbers. |
| and has since become one of the busiest | | | | |
| freeways in the entire world. This high | | | | The Douglas Aircraft Company, which purchased |
| traffic is due to the integral part that the | | | | the airport in 1922, employed up to 44,000 |
| freeway plays in providing accessibility to | | | | employees during its peak years, which |
| Los Angeles, Santa Monica, San Diego, and | | | | required the construction of housing for |
| many points in between. | | | | employees, as well as a rezoning of the |
| | | | perimeter of the airport to accommodate this |
| The freeway, which is legally defined as the | | | | residential housing influx. The Douglas Air |
| westernmost segment of Interstate 10, begins | | | | Craft company was responsible for testing and |
| at the western terminus of I-10 at the | | | | building both the A 20 Havoc and A 26 |
| Pacific Coast Highway, and ends at the famed | | | | Marauder, as well as the well known B 19. |
| East Los Angeles Interchange. The I-10 | | | | |
| Freeway branches off from that point and | | | | Many events are hosted at the Santa Monica |
| continues as the San Bernardino Freeway. | | | | airport, including the Barney Warehouse sale, |
| | | | the Macys Dream American Express Passport |
| This freeway has been featured in many films | | | | Fundraiser, Dream Halloween and PAL Halloween |
| and referenced in many songs and other areas | | | | events, The LA Arts Show, Devine Design, and |
| of current pop culture, and continues to | | | | the LA Antique show. In addition, the annual |
| serve many commuters and travelers alike, | | | | Asian Nights and the New Years Celebration |
| connecting them to prime Southern California | | | | take place at the Typhoon and the Hump, the |
| destinations as well as points beyond. | | | | airports on site restaurants. Many local |
| | | | school groups frequently visit the airport to |
| The Santa Monica Airport holds the | | | | get a firsthand look at the aviation industry |
| distinction of being the oldest operating | | | | as well. |
| airport in Los Angeles County. The earliest | | | | |
| records indicate the flights from this | | | | Today, the Santa Monica airport is one of the |
| location took place as early as WWI, when | | | | busiest in the country, and contains a Santa |
| biplane pilots utilized the then informal | | | | Monica Aviation History Museum onsite, which |
| grass landing site known as Clover Field as a | | | | is currently under remodel and is scheduled |
| take off point. Things have definitely | | | | to reopen sometime in early 2008 and is |
| changed since those days, aviation has come a | | | | expected to draw in even more visitors to the |
| long way in both technology and raw | | | | historic site. |