Huntsville, Alabama

1950Von Braun and Rocket Team Arrive: Wernher von Braun and over 100 German rocket scientists transferred to Redstone Arsenal from Fort Bliss, beginning the transformation of Huntsville into America's rocket capital.

1960Saturn V Development: NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, directed by von Braun, developed the Saturn V — the most powerful rocket ever flown, which carried astronauts to the Moon.

2023Becomes Alabama's Largest City: Huntsville surpassed Birmingham in population for the first time, driven by decades of growth in defense, aerospace, and technology sectors.

1805John Hunt's Settlement: John Hunt established a settlement at Big Spring that became the first incorporated town in Alabama Territory, preceding statehood by 14 years.

2011FBI Campus Announced: The FBI announced a massive new campus in Huntsville, joining the Army's missile defense command and NASA in making the city a hub of federal operations.

1941Redstone Arsenal Established: The Army established Redstone Arsenal for chemical weapons production during WWII, creating the military infrastructure that would attract the rocket program.

1958Explorer 1 Satellite: The team at Redstone Arsenal launched America's first satellite, Explorer 1, in response to Sputnik, marking the start of the U.S. space program.

1819Alabama Constitutional Convention: Huntsville hosted Alabama's constitutional convention and briefly served as the first state capital before it moved to Cahaba.

2000Cummings Research Park Growth: Cummings Research Park grew into the second-largest research park in the United States and fourth-largest in the world.

1970U.S. Space and Rocket Center Opens: The museum opened to showcase Huntsville's role in space exploration, featuring actual Saturn V rockets and space shuttle components.