Quirky Americana. You can see it from the main highway. Definitely a what in the world is that?? It’s huge, kinda creepy standing under it. I mean it’s huge. Interesting read. There is no signage explaining it’s existence, stumbling on this site was awesome. Cool stop.
Never knew this was here and I don't live far from here... a friend of mine told me about it. I couldn't believe that this wasn't in a museum... it's literally on the side of the road by a marina! It was really cool to see and to be able to walk up and touch an actual fuel tank from a rocket. If you are in the area... you should definitely check it out!
Wow we stopped by to this huge piece of space history. It's bigger in person. The 10 years of weather is showing but still impressive. You can drive right up to it.
Nothing here but the fuel tank. Free to visit. Not much to see other than the size of the tank and imagine there was two on the shuttle that was discharged into the Atlantic ocean. Pretty cool if you are a shuttle buff.
Was pretty cool to see. I finally made it down to see after three attempts.. and just now getting around to posting up on here.. only been like 2 yrs...For reference, truck is 07 silverado 4x4, 33in tires, 4in lift.. female, is 5'8"
We were delighted to discover that a relic of America's space shuttle program rests at this location! The external fuel tank from a space shuttle sits near the banks of the St.Johns River. It looks like a large propane tank from a distance. VERY COOL!!
Not much to add that hasn't already been covered by the previous reviews except that it is free and worth a look see. Just around the corner on the old Navy piers is the derelict ship R/V Arctic Discoverer. It was the ship that was used to salvage the SS Central America back in the late 80's. The SS Central America was a old gold rush ship that sunk in a storm with millions of dollars of gold on board. The whole story is in the book "Ship of Gold" I entered the Holland Marina from the north end of the Navy piers...
I remember this tank on display at Kennedy Space Center with booster rockets strapped to it. I was dumbfounded to see it sitting in a marina in some small town near Jacksonville. I wonder if it's here permanently or will the museum it was headed for finally get it?
Just a fun sight to see. Added bonus is that there is a Geocache located here and another nearby!
David Doyle’s description of this is very good. I’ll furnish the missing information. NASA was getting rid of a lot of their Shuttle stuff and among many other things, this tank was one of them. Bob Oehl was in the right place and right time and took this and other things off their hands and shipped to his Wings of Dreams museum in nearby Starke, 55 miles west of here. There are a lot of other things there including the shuttle flight deck simulator and the crew transport vehicle. Definitely worth a visit and Woody, the custodian, will show you around. Call ahead to let him know you’re going. Anyway, Woody tells me that the tank got as far as here and the museum and the local council or department of transport were debating over the route to get this tank to Wings of Dreams. The Council wanted it to go a route double the distance. There was also the issues to organising a company to remove and reinstall the power lines, the transport company and police escort. All 4 had to fall in place at the same time for it to be moved. It has so far been a 3-4 year problem. So it’s a logistical problem than a financial one. But while it’s here, enjoy the rare opportunity to touch it, hear the echo of its emptiness and. see where the two helmsmen would sit. It was shifted 85 yards from where it was because the neighbouring business wanted to put up a fence. Also, be careful, there may be wasp nests under the tank.
