The Boeing Plant that Helped End a War and Build a City

In this 1937 photo from the Boeing Co. archive, Boeing's historic "Plant 2," which opened in 1936, is shown in Seattle. After giving birth to some of the world's most significant aircraft, the outdated facility is scheduled to be torn down in the fall of 2010

In this 1937 photo from the Boeing Co. archive, Boeing's historic "Plant 2," which opened in 1936, is shown in Seattle.

In this Dec. 20, 1943 photo from the Boeing Co. archive, B-17G Flying Fortress airplanes are shown being built.

In this 1942 photo from the Boeing Co. archive, B-17E Flying Fortress airplanes are shown being built at Boeing's historic "Plant 2" in Seattle

In this Dec. 20, 1943 photo from the Boeing Co. archive, B-17G Flying Fortress airplanes are shown being built.

In this March 31, 1944 photo from the Boeing Co. archive, a B-17G Flying Fortress airplane is shown at Boeing's historic "Plant 2" in Seattle, with camouflage used to hide the building from aerial attacks during World War II visible on the roof.

In this June 16, 1945 photo from the Boeing Co. archive, Boeing's historic "Plant 2" in Seattle, is shown covered in camouflage designed to make it look like a residential neighborhood when viewed from the air to protect it from air-based attacks during World War II.

In this photo taken July 14, 2010, a Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress that is undergoing restoration is parked in front of the massive doors of the Boeing Co.'s historic "Plant 2," in Seattle. Behind the B-17 is a restored Lockheed Super Constellation airliner.

In this photo taken July 14, 2010, a parking sign referencing the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress with a silver B-29 in the background is shown at the Boeing Co.'s historic "Plant 2," in Seattle.

Boeing Co. historian Mike Lombardi walks through the now nearly empty "Plant 2," in Seattle.

In this March 19, 1954, photo from the Boeing Co. archive, a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress airplane is rolled out of Boeing's historic "Plant 2" in Seattle.

In this July 12, 1966 photo from the Boeing Co. archive, the first Boeing 737 airplane is shown being built at Boeing's historic "Plant 2" in Seattle

Bill Wiesner, a retired Boeing machinist, prepares rivits for an engine panel on the Boeing B-29 Superfortress at right that he is helping restore at Boeing Co.'s historic "Plant 2" in Seattle.

A Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress that is undergoing restoration is parked in front of the massive doors of the Boeing Co.'s historic "Plant 2," in Seattle.

Dale Thompson, a volunteer with the Museum of Flight, poses for a photo inside a Boeing Co. B-29 Super Fortress that he is helping restore at Boeing Co.'s historic "Plant 2" in Seattle.