▁surv iving ▁second - gener ation ▁citizens ▁set ▁up ▁a ▁mem orial ▁on ▁Terminal ▁Island ▁to ▁honor ▁their ▁parents . ▁ ▁During ▁World ▁War ▁II , ▁Terminal ▁Island ▁was ▁an ▁important ▁center ▁for ▁defense ▁indust ries , ▁especially ▁ship building . ▁It ▁was ▁also , ▁therefore , ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁first ▁places ▁where ▁African ▁Americans ▁tried ▁to ▁effect ▁their ▁integration ▁into ▁defense - related ▁work ▁on ▁the ▁West ▁Coast . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 6 , ▁Howard ▁Hugh es ▁moved ▁his ▁mon str ous ▁Spr uce ▁Go ose ▁air plane ▁from ▁his ▁plant ▁in ▁C ul ver ▁City ▁to ▁Terminal ▁Island ▁in ▁prepar ation ▁for ▁its ▁test ▁flight . ▁In ▁its ▁first ▁and ▁only ▁flight , ▁it ▁took ▁off ▁from ▁the ▁island ▁on ▁November ▁ 2 , ▁ 1 9 4 7 . ▁ ▁Bro ther hood ▁Race way ▁Park , ▁a ▁ ▁mile ▁drag ▁racing ▁strip , ▁opened ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 4 ▁on ▁former ▁US ▁Navy ▁land . ▁It ▁operated , ▁with ▁many ▁inter ru ptions , ▁until ▁finally ▁closing ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 5 ▁to ▁be ▁replaced ▁by ▁a ▁coal - hand ling ▁facility . ▁ ▁Pres ervation ▁of ▁vac ant ▁buildings ▁earned ▁the ▁island ▁a ▁spot ▁on ▁the ▁top ▁ 1 1 ▁sites ▁on ▁the ▁National ▁Trust ▁for ▁Historic ▁Pres ervation ' s ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁Most ▁End anger ed ▁Historic ▁Places ▁List . ▁ ▁In ▁mid - 2 0 1 3 , ▁the ▁Los ▁Angeles ▁Board ▁of ▁Har bor ▁Commission ers ▁approved