This Downey Industrial site has a long and rich history of aerospace contributions. In 2010 the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics selected it as the Aerospace Historic Site of the Year. This was the site of the first folded wing aircraft designed by Bert Kinner. It was the design and  manufacturing site for the Vultee BT-13 Tranier aircraft.

After the second World War North American Aviation developed the rocket and missile technologies that would later  launch the ICBM and Cruise missile projects.

The 1960's brought on the Space Race and the site became home to the Apollo Design and Production Program. All of the Apollo Spacecraft that took men to the moon were built here.

Finally it was the Production Design center for the Space Shuttle Orbiters. All of the Crew Module sections and Aft Engine structures were built here. The heritage of this site truly makes it "Sacred Ground".

                                                                                             G.A. Blackburn 2012