Astounding Astronauts!

Although Lawrence County in Indiana is best known as Limestone Country, it is also the home of three United States astronauts. Kenneth D. Bowersox and Charles D. Walker both hail from Bedford. Mitchell is the hometown of Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, the second man in space.

The 50th Anniversary of U.S. Astronaut Gus Grissom's Flight
July 21, 2011 will mark the 50th Anniversary of Gus Grissom's first flight into space aboard the capsule named "Liberty Bell 7." The successful flight was followed by a dramatic ending when the capsule was lost at sea after splashdown and Grissom was rescued.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary, there will be many celebratory events in July in Grissom's hometown of Mitchell and at the Grissom Memorial in Spring Mill State Park.

Grissom died on January 27, 1967 aboard Apollo I, when a flash fire broke out in the command module on the launch pad. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery and is considered the city of Mitchell's hometown hero.

Visitors to Limestone Country can learn more about Gus Grissom's life and legacy in space travel.

Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom Memorial
Inside Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, is a tribute to this pioneer of the United States space program. Grissom's actual space suit and one of the capsules he piloted are found in this museum, including with actual artifacts and interactive exhibits. Open daily 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., closed holidays.

Grissom Monument
A 44-foot, 28-ton limestone statue of the Redstone Rocket with the Liberty Bell 7 capsule stands on the lawn of Mitchell's City Hall. The monument is on the site once occupied by the South Side School, Grissom's elementary school. Bricks from the school were used for the wall surrounding the monument.
409 S. 6th St. in Downtown Mitchell, IN (on the west side of South 6th St. between College Ave. and Grissom Ave.)