With a panoramic view across the Indian River Lagoon in downtown Titusville, Space View Park was the gathering place for millions of visitors over the past few decades to watch dramatic Space Shuttle launches, complete with live NASA narration. It’s a quieter spot now, with memorials honoring local contributions to the space program and manatees visible in the shallows of the lagoon.
Resources
Overview
Location: Titusville
Lat-Lon: 28.613611, -80.804736
Fees: Free
Open: Sunrise to sunset, evenings during launches
Restrooms provided near the Mercury memorial.
Location
Off US 1 in downtown Titusville at Broad Street, just south of Garden Street (SR 406).
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Details
There are three distinct portions to Space View Park: the waterfront surrounding the Mercury memorial, where you’ll also find a Veterans memorial and a walk through the history of space travel; the walkway and waterfront at the Gemini memorial, just to the north of the canal; and the walkway and canal walk through the Apollo, Apollo-Soyez, and Space Shuttle memorial (still under construction), towards US 1 on the north side of the canal.
Each memorial gives details about our American manned space programs and honors local participants in those programs: we’re proud to note that John’s father is among them, honored for his work on Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo. Castings of many of the astronaut’s handprints are along the walkways, as well as mission logos and “Did you know” facts on granite markers in the bricks.
The best place to see manatees is off the dock, or at the very north end of the park along the waterfront adjoining a condo complex next to the Veterans memorials. You may see dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon as well.
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