Historical Photo of the Month - May 2008

Historic Landmarks
Photograph Number P-44475Bc

In January 1986, Universe announced that two JPL buildings and one Goldstone facility had been named National Historic Landmarks by the U.S. Department of the Interior for their critical roles in the history of space exploration. They are the Space Flight Operations Facility (SFOF), building 230; the 25-foot Space Simulator, building 150; and the Pioneer Deep Space Station at Goldstone.

In July 1994 a dedication ceremony was held at the SFOF. Three plaques were presented to then-Deputy Director Larry Dumas by David Gackenbush, a representative of the Department of the Interior/National Parks Service. The photo above was taken at the south entrance to building 230. Left to right are Dumas, NASA Management Office Manager Kurt Lindstrom, Gackenbush, and SFOF Manager Jim Allen. Gackenbush said, "We are pleased to be able to recognize the importance of [these facilities] in the history of America's unmanned space program and the exploration of our solar system. The engineers, scientists, technicians, support personnel and all those involved with creating, operating, and preserving these facilities are equally deserving of recognition."

For more information about the history of JPL, contact the JPL Archives for assistance. [Archival and other sources: Photolab files and Universe issues 1/24/86, p. 1 and 8/12/94, p. 3]