On a sunny day in early fall, historic Allegheny County Airport (AGC) threw open its doors to the community and invited them to get a modern vision of its storied past.

The general aviation facility threw a party for its 90th anniversary on Saturday, combining efforts with the Mon Valley Arts Fest to host vendors, food trucks, static aviation displays and more as it unveiled the results of a $3.5 million renovation over the past five years.

“It’s special not only because the terminal is a historic landmark and famous leaders have visited, but also because it represents community,” said Traci Clark, vice president of AGC.

“I often hear stories of people’s vivid memories of taking their first flight from this airport or see grandparents with their grandchildren out at the picnic tables watching the planes land and take off, and I’m reminded that this is truly a special place.”

AGC’s terminal rehab upgraded the restrooms, a conference room, the lobby and other portions of the interior, modernizing the building and increasing operational efficiency. It also revitalized the grand Art Deco design that helped earn the airport historic landmark status.

Nearly 1,000 people from West Mifflin and the surrounding community attended the event, which kicked off with a color guard presentation from the Civil Air Patrol and the National Anthem played by West Mifflin High School’s “Thunder” Marching Band.

Elected officials including County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, state Reps. Nick Pisciottano and Austin Davis, and others spoke of AGC’s historic importance to the community and current role as a key economic driver for the area.

“(AGC) has continued to be a leading general aviation airport, supporting private corporate and leisure travelers while remaining one of the busiest airports in Pennsylvania in terms of take-offs and landings with nearly 60,000 operations annually,” Fitzgerald said.