Miami International Airport Hotel, Florida 1980

This authentic 1980 color photograph documents the Miami International Airport Hotel, located directly atop the central terminal at Miami International Airport (MIA) in Florida. The archival image highlights the hotel’s distinctive curved architectural design and private guest balconies that offer a direct view of the airport’s busy “U”-shaped access roadway and runways. Originally opened in 1959 as part of the new 20th Street Terminal, the 270-room hotel was a marvel of its time, being the first hotel in the United States to be built directly inside a major airport terminal. The foreground features the era’s automotive landscape, including a variety of late 1970s and early 1980s American sedans and station wagons navigating the arrival and departure levels. While the hotel underwent significant “boutique” style renovations in the mid-2010s to modernize its interior with tropical Miami-inspired terrazzo and high-end finishes, the iconic exterior structure remains a standing landmark of the airport’s mid-century expansion. As of 2026, it remains the only hotel located inside the terminal, though a new Westin hotel is currently being developed on-site to complement the airport’s growing capacity. All our images are available as royalty-free instant downloads for use in books, media, and creative projects – or make your own prints for home, work, or as a truly unique gift.