National Historic Landmark

Goddard Rocket Launching Site

Auburn, Worcester County, Massachusetts
Listed
November 13, 1966
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
66000654

About this property

The Goddard Rocket Launching Site is a National Historic Landmark commemorating the launch site of the world's first successful liquid-fueled rocket. Dr. Robert H. Goddard launched his historic rocket on March 16, 1926, from what was then the Asa Ward Farm. The 10-foot (3.0 m) rocket reached an altitude of 41 feet (12 m), flew for two-and-a-half seconds, and fell to the ground 184 feet (56 m) from the launching frame. Goddard's final launch from Auburn, on July 17, 1929, was also a historic first. The 11-foot (3.4 m) rocket carried an aneroid barometer, thermometer, and a camera triggered when the parachute opened. All three instruments operated successfully and were recovered. The rocket achieved a maximum altitude of 90 feet (27 m) in an 18.5-second flight covering a distance of 171 feet (52 m). The site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1966. The site is located at 20 Upland Street, Auburn, Massachusetts, within the Pakachoag Golf Course. The launch site is indicated with two markers accessible to visitors while the golf course is open. An obelisk marking the launch site itself is about 1000 feet (300 m) southeast of Upland Street at the "9th Fairway, between Tee and Green," of the Pakachoag Golf Course. This marker may be difficult to access due to the nature of golf. The best advice for visiting is to walk the rock wall between 1st and 9th fairways. A second marker, rectangular in shape, is just off Upland Street in the northwest corner of the golf course. List of National Historic Landmarks in Massachusetts National Register of Historic Places listings in Worcester County, Massachusetts Aviation: From Sand Dunes to Sonic Booms, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary

Location

Auburn, Worcester County, Massachusetts
42.21876, -71.81195

Categories

SCIENCEINVENTION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Questions about this property

When was Goddard Rocket Launching Site listed on the National Register?

Goddard Rocket Launching Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 13, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Goddard Rocket Launching Site?

Goddard Rocket Launching Site is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Goddard Rocket Launching Site a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Goddard Rocket Launching Site has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Goddard Rocket Launching Site?

The period of significance for Goddard Rocket Launching Site is recorded as the listed era.

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