National Register of Historic Places

NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Historic District

Hampton (Independent City), Hampton County, Virginia
Listed
June 26, 2012
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
12000374

About this property

The Langley Research Center (LaRC or NASA Langley), located in Hampton, Virginia, near the Chesapeake Bay front of Langley Air Force Base, is the oldest of NASA's field centers. LaRC has focused primarily on aeronautical research but has also tested space hardware such as the Apollo Lunar Module. In addition, many of the earliest high-profile space missions were planned and designed on-site. Langley was also considered a potential site for NASA's Manned Spacecraft Center prior to the eventual selection of Houston, Texas. Established in 1917 by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the research center devotes two-thirds of its programs to aeronautics and the rest to space. LaRC researchers use more than 40 wind tunnels to study and improve aircraft and spacecraft safety, performance, and efficiency. Between 1958 and 1963, when NASA (the successor agency to NACA) started Project Mercury, LaRC served as the main office of the Space Task Group. In February 2025, after previously serving as Deputy Director, Dr. Trina Marsh Dyal was appointed the Acting Center Director of NASA Langley.

Location

Hampton (Independent City), Hampton County, Virginia
37.09125, -76.37243

Categories

SCIENCEENGINEERINGMILITARYCOMMUNICATIONSTRANSPORTATION
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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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Nearby Historic Sites

Rendezvous Docking Simulator
Listed
0.5 mi
Lunar Landing Research Facility
Industrial
1.2 mi
Variable Density Tunnel
Industrial
1.8 mi
Full Scale Tunnel
Industrial
1.8 mi
Eight-Foot High Speed Tunnel
Industrial
1.8 mi

Nearby Battles

Big Bethel
1861Civil War
2.6 mi
Battle of Big Bethel
1861Civil War
2.7 mi
Big Bethel Battle (June 10, 1861)
1861Civil War
3.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Historic District listed on the National Register?

NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 26, 2012.

What type of historic resource is NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Historic District?

NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Historic District?

The period of significance for NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Historic District?

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