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The Grave of Miss Baker

Visit the final resting place of Miss Baker, a pioneering monkey astronaut at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

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Pay your respects to Miss Baker, a squirrel monkey who was one of the first animals sent into space by the United States to return safely. Her grave is located at the entrance to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and is often adorned with bananas left by visitors.

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Local tips

  • Bring a banana to leave on Miss Baker's grave as a sign of respect.
  • The grave is located near the entrance of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, making it accessible without purchasing admission.
  • Look for the headstone in a grove of trees to the right of the walkway near the gift shop.
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Getting There

  • Driving

    The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is located off I-565 in Huntsville. Take exit 15 from I-565 for US-231/US-431 and follow the signs. Free parking is available on-site. From the parking area, walk towards the main entrance; the grave is to the right of the walkway in a grove of trees, near the gift shop and bus drop-off area.

  • Taxi/Ride-Share

    A taxi or ride-share from downtown Huntsville to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center takes about 10-15 minutes, depending on traffic. Expect to pay $12-$15 for the ride. Ask the driver to drop you off near the main entrance. Miss Baker's grave is located to the right of the walkway in a grove of trees, near the gift shop and bus drop-off area.

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Discover more about The Grave of Miss Baker

The Grave of Miss Baker is a poignant memorial to a pioneer of space exploration. Miss Baker, a squirrel monkey, along with Miss Able, a rhesus macaque, were the first animals launched into space by the U.S. and safely recovered on May 28, 1959. This suborbital flight, reaching an altitude of 300 miles with nine minutes of weightlessness, was a crucial step toward understanding the effects of space travel on living beings. While Miss Able passed away shortly after the flight, Miss Baker lived to the age of 27, becoming somewhat of a celebrity. She resided at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center from 1971 until her death in 1984, charming visitors and receiving fan mail. She even had two 'marriages' to male monkeys, Big George and Norman, who are buried alongside her. Her gravesite consists of a granite headstone and is located in a grove of trees near the entrance of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Visitors often leave bananas as a tribute to this brave 'monkeynaut'. The grave is accessible without needing to pay admission to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

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