I've always been fascinated by the history of the U.S. space program, so visiting Space View Park…read morewas a real treat. It is the only park in America dedicated to honoring not only the astronauts but also the countless men and women whose work helped the United States become a leader in space exploration. One of the park's highlights is the Mercury Monument, dedicated on May 12, 1995. Its distinctive design is centered around the number seven, representing the original Mercury Seven astronauts. In front of the monument are bronze handprints of each astronaut, along with profile reliefs of their likenesses. The monument is part of the American Space Museum's U.S. Space Walk. The Mercury Seven were seven elite military test pilots chosen as America's first astronauts. They included Alan Shepard, the first American in space; Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, who tragically lost his life in the Apollo 1 launch pad fire in 1967; John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962; Scott Carpenter; Walter M. "Wally" Schirra; Gordon Cooper; and Donald K. "Deke" Slayton. The many accomplishments of these men are awe inspiring. The Mercury Seven created an entirely new profession in the United States and cemented the image of the American astronaut. Their courage, skill, and pioneering spirit inspired millions and brought immense pride to the nation. Although they are no longer with us, their remarkable achievements and lasting legacy will never be forgotten. If you too have a passion for astrophilia this monument and park is a place you will want to visit to reflect on the bravery displayed by these pioneers who helped make space exploration possible.

I found the Bicentennial Memorial during the celebration for America's 250th birthday celebration…read more It seemed fitting to discover a monument dedicated to the nation's 200th anniversary exactly fifty years later. The Bicentennial Memorial in Cocoa Beach was erected by Brevard County and dedicated on July 20, 1976, as part of the nationwide celebration marking 200 years of American independence. Bearing the inspirational phrase, "With inner faith to outer space," the monument reflects both the nation's heritage and the Space Coast's extraordinary contribution to America's journey beyond Earth. Located just minutes from Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach was home to many astronauts during the height of the space race. For that reason Brevard County's Bicentennial monument celebrates not only the nation's founding but also the region's role in one of America's greatest achievements. Facing the roadway, the monument features the Great Seal of the United States and a heartfelt dedication honoring the men, women, and children of Brevard County who generously gave their time and financial support to commemorate the Bicentennial. Their names were inscribed on parchment and placed beneath the monument as a lasting tribute to their community spirit. On the park-facing side, Bicentennial logo is accompanied by an engraved Apollo moon landing scene. The artwork depicts a lunar module, an astronaut, the American flag, and a Lunar Roving Vehicle, the electric rover used during Apollo missions 15, 16, and 17 to explore greater distances across the Moon's surface. The monument also pays tribute to NASA's original Mercury Seven astronauts: M. Scott Carpenter L. Gordon Cooper Jr. John Glenn Virgil "Gus" Grissom Walter M. Schirra Jr. Alan B. Shepard Jr. Donald K. Slayton Although mot very large, the memorial captures the patriotism of the Bicentennial era and the pride Brevard County felt in its community and its connection to the American space program. It serves as a reminder that while the nation was remembering 200 years of history, the Space Coast was also looking to the future of space travel.

This is one of the military memorials in Cocoa Riverfront Park. Emory Lawrence Bennett stands near…read morefellow Medal of Honor honoree Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris. I have an interest in military history and it was interesting to learn more about both men. Bennett was born on December 20, 1929 in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. He moved to Cocoa in 1937 where his family ran the Bennett Fish Market. His older brothers fought in WWII and he enlisted in the army on July 25, 1950. In Fenruary 1951 Bennett was sent to Korea where he served with first class with Company B of the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. In the early morning hours of June 24, 1951, his company took a hill near Sobangsan from the Chinese. The next day 1.500 troops swarmed up the ridgeline in a ferocious human wave, known as a banzai charge, to take back the hill. Bennett's company only had 200 soldiers. He left his foxhole and stood exposed to hostile fire as he attempted to repel the enemy. Even though he was injured he maintained the position long enough to momentarily halt the enemy advance and allow Company B to regroup. Bennett voluntarily stayed behind to provide covering fire while the rest of his unit withdrew. During his companies retreat he was mortally wounded. When he was last seen he had 50 of the enemy piled around him. His body arrived home to Florida on November 23, 1951 and he is interred at Pinecrest Cemetery in Cocoa, Florida. For his heroic actions during the battle, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor six months later, on February 1, 1952. Nine other fallen soldiers were also awarded the nation's highest honor for valor that day. A portion of his citation reads "Although wounded, Pfc. Bennett gallantly maintained his one-man defense and the attack was momentarily halted. During this lull in battle, the company regrouped for counterattack, but the numerically superior foe soon infiltrated into the position. Upon orders to move back, Pfc. Bennett voluntarily remained to provide covering fire for the withdrawing elements, and, defying the enemy, continued to sweep the charging foe with devastating fire until mortally wounded. His willing self-sacrifice and intrepid actions saved the position from being overrun and enabled the company to effect an orderly withdrawal. Pfc Bennett's unflinching courage and consummate devotion to duty reflect lasting glory on himself and the military service." In addition to this monument in Cocoa Riverside Park, in 1993, a veterans' nursing home in Daytona Beach, Florida, was built and named in his honor and the Bennett Causeway in Brevard County was also named for him. On Merritt Island, a wing at the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center is dedicated in his honor. Cocoa Florida will never forget the sacrifice made by Emory Lawrence Bennett.

This Steamboat Pioneer Memorial sign is posted at the center of the Space Coast Park leading up to…read morethe Gemini Monument at the tip of the brick walkway. The memorial sign provides information of the Steamboat Pioneer that was engulfed in a fire in 1877 where it sank at this location on the Indian River.

This historic sign tells us the tragic tale of the Steamship Pioneer, which burned while anchored…read morehere back in April of 1877. The Steamship Pioneer was the first commercial passenger steamboat on the Indian River and was the flagship of Captain T.J. Lund's Pioneer Steamboat Company, which was formed in the 2870's to transport people. History has always fascinated me and ot is hard to imagine what Titusville must have been like back in those days to the tourists. I am glad I came across this plaque.

This is a single stage lock. You can see how locks work close up. There is seating and picnic…read moretables for your use. You can see boats pass thru and many times dolphins go thru also. The best part about this area is the unobstructed view of the Space center launch site. We have watched one from the causeway and Jetty Park and this is the best. I believe this is an unknown site due to its location but it's easy to get to. Take binoculars but you can see without. On the 1/30/18 launch there were probably eight cars in the lot. It's 5.5 miles from the launch pad.

The Clifton School House was built around 1890-1891 by Butler Campbell and Andrew Jackson, black…read moreland owners who homesteaded on north Merritt Island. A nearby neighbor by the name of Wade Holmes provided a one- acre lot as the building site, which was located in the north west corner of his property adjacent to the Campbell's. Prior to building the school house, the Campbell and Jackson children attended school in the home of a black man by the name of Mahaffey who lived nearby. They bought the lumber and building materials in Titusville and had them shipped by sailboat to north Merritt Island. Together, and with the help of Wade Holmes, they built a 12 x 16 wooden structure of heart pine lumber. Two sets of glass-paned windows were placed opposite each other on the north and south sides of the building. The front of the school house faced west which was fitted with a double paneled door, and the roof was made of cedar or cypress boards. The entire structure rested on wood pilings about one foot off the ground. By 1910 most of the Campbell and Jackson children were of the age to be out of school or attending a school in Titusville that offered a higher education, and the little wooden structure no longer was used as a school house. When the Government took over all of North Merritt Island in the 1960's the families had to relocate to other areas. Most of the structures were demolished or disassembled board by board until there was little visible evidence that any inhabitants had lived in that area. Somehow the old Clifton Schoolhouse was overlooked, or maybe thought not to be of any value, and would eventually fall to the elements of weather and time soon enough. Sometime in the late 1960's or 1970's, someone discovered the old wooden structure still standing under a heavy growth of vines, and after investigation of the site, found an old trunk inside, filled with old letters, post cards, receipts, greeting cards and other personnel items belonging to the Campbell family. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO RESTORE SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT!

Kelly Slater is Cocoa Beach's most famous resident and a beloved hometown hero. In a town that…read moreprides itself on its surfing culture, one name rises above all the rest: Kelly Slater. Robert Kelly Slater (born February 11, 1972) grew up in Cocoa Beach and learned to surf the waves off nearby Fourth Street North before expanding his skills all along the Space Coast. He went on to become the greatest competitive surfer in history, winning a record 11 World Surf League championships, including an astounding five consecutive titles from 1994 to 1998. Slater remains both the youngest surfer ever to win a world title, at age 20, and the oldest, capturing another championship in 2010 at age 38. Widely regarded as the greatest professional surfer of all time, Slater has amassed 56 Championship Tour victories while helping bring surfing into the mainstream through his innovative style and remarkable longevity. Beyond competition, he founded the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch, whose revolutionary wave technology produces perfect, man-made waves for elite competitions and training. He has also launched successful apparel and sunscreen brands. To honor Slater's extraordinary achievements, Cocoa Beach commissioned a bronze statue that stands at the north end of downtown, where A1A splits at Triangle Park. While there is parking nearby, visitors should use caution when crossing the busy two lane roadway to reach the monument. The 9 1/2-foot bronze statue was sculpted in clay by artist Tasha Drazich, a graduate of Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School, and cast by Bronzart Foundry in Sarasota. Drazich based the sculpture on a famous 1988 photograph of Slater surfing at Sebastian Inlet. The statue was unveiled during a ceremony in November 2010. Looking at the crowds gathered for the occasion, Slater joked, "I never thought they'd stop traffic for me." In 2017, the statue received a professional restoration by Melbourne-based Emery McKesson Heritage Conservation and still continues to look great when I saw it recently. You can stop by anytime to take a photo or selfie with the legend for that iconic souvenir of a visit to Cocoa Beach.

I finally made it to see a Falcon 9 NROL-77 launch and can confirm this is the best and closest…read morelocation to Launch Complex 39A/B (which is too close to allow public viewing during launches) and nearby LC-40 and LC-41. Arrival & Transit Time: From the moment you park at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Visitor Complex, it takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to reach the viewing site. Bus Ride: The bus ride itself is about 15 minutes. Cost: The transfer cost was $88 on top of the daily entrance fee (you might consider an annual pass if planning to return at least one more time). Launch Experience: The narration was very interactive, and the sound was impressive. A major bonus was being able to clearly see the booster landing about 10 miles away at Landing Zone 2 (LZ-2). Departure Time: The way back to the parking lot took a bit longer, almost an hour, since the bus made a couple of stops along the way. I liked it a lot and might return in 48 hours for another potential launch!

The Gantry at LC-39 is the newest attraction and first stop on the bus tour. It's adjacent to…read morelaunch complex 39 at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral. LC-39 offers 360 degree views around Kennedy Space Center, with several free standing binoculars to see two of the launch pads. If my memory is correct they are launch pads 39 A and 39 B. Through the binocular on the right side of The Gantry you could see a rocket leaning against the side of the launch pad. On the left side you could see the Space X building(I think it was a building)The Gantry is 4 stories high, and is handicap accessible, there is an elevator and a ramp. As we were walking up to The Gantry, you can see a full sized rocket engine under The Gantry, and hear the count down to blast off. When the engine reaches zero the rocket engine starts up loud sound with steam and a mist coming from it. A very impressive photo or video opportunity. Inside The Gantry there are a lot of things to do and see, you can sit on one of the many NASA crawler transporter pistons to make a simulated rocket on the computers that surround the center of The Gantry. What is the crawler transporter?? The crawler-transporter is a huge machine that transports the rockets/shuttles to the different launch pads. It is bigger than a baseball infield, and when it was loaded with a space shuttle it weighs more than 18 million pounds and travels at a speed of one mile per hour. The crawler transporter travels on a specially made crawler way made to support the weight of the crawler transporter. The (according to KSC) river rock surface covers a layer of asphalt and a seven foot-deep bed of crushed stone, and it extends 3.4 miles from the VAB to Launch Pad 39 A and about 4.2 miles to Launch Pad B. There are clean restrooms here, (all of their restroom facilities were super clean and well stocked with supplies)the ladies counting for the buses to load were friendly, and the man running the souvenir shop at LC- 39 was friendly and welcoming. On the side of The Gantry there are stadium type seats to view a rocket launch. The Gantry was very informative and educational and well worth the visit.