Posted 5/1/24

A piece of the Alabama Welcome Center iconic landmark that greeted beachgoers and travelers at the Tennessee-Alabama state line will now take its own trip down I-65 for a new home.

The Saturn 1B Rocket was installed at the Ardmore Welcome Center along I-65 in Alabama close to 45 years ago. However, in 2023, work began to dismantle the rocket from its longtime home due to deterioration and decay.

Tuesday, one of the main engines from the rocket will be transported to the Gateway STEM Center in Springfield, which is a nonprofit that helps encourage kids to carry out careers in STEM. The Gateway STEM Center, said the nonprofit is thrilled to have acquired one of the engines from Saturn 1B.

According to NASA, the Saturn 1B was part of the Apollo program and first launched into orbit in 1966 to train for manned flights to the moon.

Later this year, a piece of the rocket’s space engine will be on display at the Gateway STEM Center located at 4917 Highway 41 North, Suite 130, in Springfield.