Newark Airport gets a bad rap but it’s really quite a fascinating place. Sure, it’s crowded, but it’s got a rich history and some unique secrets. Also known as Newark Liberty International and EWR, it was once simply Newark Metropolitan Airport. A true New Jersey gem, it dates back to 1928.

Newark Metropolitan Airport opened on October 1, 1928. It was the first major airport in the New York Metropolitan Area and the first airport with a control tower (added in 1948).
Jo Zimny Photos/Flickr
Its art deco administration building was completed in 1935 and is now a national historic landmark. The building was dedicated by Amelia Earhart. Seen here is a photo of Albert Einstein at the airport in 1939.
Lou Shornik/Wikipedia
Newark was the busiest commercial airport in the world until LaGuardia Airport opened in December 1939. During WWII, the airport was taken over by the United States Army for logistics operations.
Alvaroreguly/Flickr
In the present day, Newark Liberty is the busiest of the area's airports. It handles more flights than JFK making a sight like this very rare. In 2018, the airport served 46,065,175 passengers. Top travel destinations include Orlando, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Fort Lauderdale.
Tom Murphy VII/Wikipedia

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It is a hub for United Airlines and hosts dozens of others, along with freight and commercial planes. FedEx is its second-largest tenant. The airport currently has 3 terminals.
Jared And Corin/Flickr/Wikipedia
Until the early 1970s, the airport had just a single terminal.
Nicolas Jehly/Unsplash/Wikipedia
The airport rapidly expanded in the 1980s, with the addition of two new terminals. In 1996, the monorail opened.
Aero Icarus/Wikipedia
A modern control tower was completed in 2003 and plans were made to build an additional terminal by 2022. It is set to replace the existing Terminal A.
Image By David Z. From Pixabay
That's the history but history isn't all this unique airport offers. Being New Jersey, it's home to two diners - Liberty Diner (Terminal B) and Garden State Diner (Terminal C). It's also quite the foodie paradise.
George Thomas/Flickr
There are bars, grills, cafes, sit down restaurants and so much more. There's an Irish pub, sushi bar, and steakhouse. You'll also find (or not find) one of the area's most exclusive restaurants - CLASSIFIED. This not-so-secret eatery is invite only and open to elite United Airlines customers.

Three questions…Did you learn anything new? Can you offer any other fun facts about New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport? And, have you been to CLASSIFIED? Tell us all about it!

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3 Brewster Rd, Newark, NJ 07114, USA