Caption: Rocket Park at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Huntsville is the fourth largest city in Alabama. Its nickname is
"The Rocket Citv." Huntsville was once a quiet town with a population of a little over thirteen thousand. World War I and a space program changed all that for Huntsville
John Hunt was the original first settler. but Huntsville was named
Twickenham by LeRoy Pope. who purchased the land. Before the War of 1812. it was re-named Huntsville to honor its first settler. John Hunt
A constitutional convention was held in Huntsville in 1819
Alabama became a state on December 14t or that vear. nuntsville was
Alabama's Tirst state capital.
During the Civil War, Huntsville was spared demolition because it provided housing for a few sections of the Union Army, but many homes in the surrounding countryside were burned.
After the Civil War, Huntsville became a center for cotton textile mills. Then, during the Great Depression, Huntsville became well known for its watercress. At that time Huntsville was called "The Watercress Capital of the World."
When World War II came along everything changed. Huntsville was chosen as the location for chemical and munitions plants for the U.S. Army. When the war was over, the U.S. Army was convinced by Major General Holger Toftoy to choose Huntsville as the site for its missile research program. General Toftoy brought German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun to Huntsville. He helped develop what was to become the United States'
space program.
In 1950, General Dwight D. Eisenhower dedicated the Marshall Space Flight Center in the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. The flight center designed the missiles that were used for the first U.S. satellite and astronauts in
space.
Today, Huntsville, Alabama, is home to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Huntsville is nicknamed "the
Rocket City" because of its history with U.S. space missions. It is also the location of the U.S. Armv Aviation and Missile Command as well as NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.
Huntsville, Alabama, The Rocket City
1. In which U.S. state is "the Rocket City" located?
A. Texas
B. Florida
C. Alabama
D. California
2. Huntsville was originally named what?
A. Twinkletoes
B. Twickenham
C. Pope
D. Turningham
3. What city was Alabama's first state capital?
A. Birmingham
B. Montgomery
C. Huntsville
D. Mobile
4. Which president dedicated the Marshall Space Flight Center?
5. During the Great Depression Huntsville raised what crop?
6. Why is Huntsville nicknamed "the Rocket City" today?
A. because of its cotton crops
B. because of its history with space missions
C. because of its crons
D. because of its o1 wells
Answers:
1. C. Alabama
2. B. Twickenham
3. C. Huntsville
4. Dwight D. Eisenhower
5. Watercress
6. B. because of its history with space missions