- History
The refuge traces its beginnings to the development of the nation’s Space Program. In 1962, NASA acquired 140,000 acres of land, water, and marshes adjacent to Cape Canaveral to establish the John F. Kennedy Space Center. NASA built a launch complex and other space-related facilities, but development of most of the area was not necessary. In1963. the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service signed an agreement to establish the refuge and in 1975 a second agreement established Canaveral National Seashore. Today, the Department of Interior manages most of the unused portions of the Kennedy Space Center as a National Wildlife Refuge and National Seashore.
The northern half of the refuge, about 20 miles of the 35 mile long refuge, is open to the public for the enjoyment of certain wildlife oriented activities. (Click here to view map)
To visit the Kennedy Space Center website click here.
Apollo Liftoff - NASA Photo
