We went to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center! and, we have so much to share with you.
Location, location, location
The center is located in northern Alabama, Huntsville to be exact. Aside from a few basic signs and a large rocket standing outside, the center is housed inside a couple of unassuming buildings. Don’t let the visual fool you. There is a lot going on inside.
What’s the deal?
The venue is the official visitor center for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center is also home to the famous Space Camp. But, that’s not all. This venue is affiliated with Smithsonian, meaning the relics inside the museum are top notch.
There are two buildings. – the museum and the Saturn V Hall.
The Cost
Now, this attraction is not cheap. It costs roughly $60 for adults to visit the museum and the Saturn V Hall. There are add-on experiences available as well for additional fees. however, this experience is worth every penny and more.
The Museum
The first room of the museum is filled with space themed toys and memorabilia from our nation’s space program. However, the second room has some really cool experiments, an ISS Cupola that you can stand in, rockets, and a Boeing CST 100 Starliner Pressure Vessel. Not too shabby.
We visited an exhibit where a lady told us all about the International Space Station (ISS).
Attention Teachers!!!!!
Want to get a picture from the ISS for your students? That’s right. You can request a picture from the crew of the space station. You can specify what you would like them to photograph from space. Of course, there is a vetting process to make sure only public areas are photographed. But, how cool is this idea?!
Here is the link.
Saturn V Hall
While we loved seeing the U.S. Space and Rocket Center museum collection, it was the Saturn V Hall that truly won our hearts. This impressive building holds more than just space memorabilia. It holds the heart of the space program – the former engineers who made it all possible.
Not only do you get to see the Saturn V, you get to hang out with retired engineers and talk to them! This was truly one of the most memorable experiences of our lives.
Our recommendations:
Get to the center early. You are going to want to spend time talking to the engineers.
If you have older kids and teens plan a little extra in the budget for some of the thrill ride experiences.
Check the website to see if there are any special events taking place.
Be sure to check out our video We Visited the U.S. Space and Rocket Center!
Want more information on our recent road trip? Check out our post We Went to Mammoth Cave!
–And remember, break the monotony, not the bank.
–Marnie and Jeff
