When a place is known as the Rocket City, you have to expect that things move pretty fast. If you happen to be in town on a Sunday morning, you would, of course, be welcomed to attend the church where he worshiped, but if not, you can enjoy a beautiful stroll down the streets around the church. You can also wander through historic Maple Hill Cemetery. There are several easy and fun day trips you can take from here, and for the von Brauns, if it was a summer Sunday, the odds were pretty good they were at Lake Guntersville.
The obvious place to space-geek out is, of course, the U. He helped found the Rocket Center, got the ball rolling for Space Camp, and his old office furniture is on display there. Take the bus tour of Marshall Space Flight Center , where he was the first director, and the first building you come to was the one that housed his office. Von Braun not only helped found the VBAS, he literally physically helped build its planetarium atop Monte Sano Mountain, and its dome was repurposed Saturn rocket hardware.
Check out their website for upcoming programs. Grab a few friends, and head to the courthouse square. There are a few pictures out there of von Braun on the square, but one of the most iconic was taken after the Apollo 11 crew returned safely to Earth. The backdrop for the picture is still easily recognizable today, so hand the camera to one friend while you climb on the shoulders of a couple more for one of your most memorable travel shots ever.
David Hitt is a native of Huntsville who enjoys telling the stories of his hometown. Cookies are used for measurement, ads and optimization. By continuing to use our site you agree to our privacy notice. Get a Destination Guide. Get a Meeting Planner Guide. Click here to sign up for our Newsletters! Info huntsville. Blast off to the top.
