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Two-block-long oasis of water and walkways and mounds and depressions representing cratered lunar surface, the park's 32-level Wortham Fountain features towering stainless steel cylinders designed to resemble the Apollo's rocket boosters
General Information
Head northeast on Bagby St. Turn left onto Walker St. Take the exit toward I-45 S/Sabine. Merge onto Sabine St. Turn right onto Memorial Dr. Use any lane to turn slightly right onto Rusk St.
Overview
Tranquillity Park is a two-block downtown Houston park set between the U.S. federal courthouse and Houston City Hall, named for the Sea of Tranquility where Apollo 11 landed on the Moon on July 20, 1969. Opened in 1979 and dedicated on the mission's tenth anniversary, the park's mounds, depressions, and water features are designed to evoke the cratered lunar surface, while its 32-level Wortham Fountain features stainless steel cylinders shaped like Apollo rocket boosters.
Things to Do
Read the Moon Landing Plaques
Bronze plaques near the main entrance display Neil Armstrong's first words from the Moon — "Houston, Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed." — translated into 15 languages.
See the Moon Footprint Replica
A cast of one of Neil Armstrong's footprints from the lunar surface is on display within the park.
Visit the Space Shuttle Memorials
A smaller park just across the street holds two memorials honoring the crews lost in the Challenger and Columbia disasters.
Catch a Downtown Event
Throughout the year the park hosts city functions, art shows, and festivals such as the Houston International Festival and the Children's Festival.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Tranquillity Park", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
