Editing Cape Canaveral (section)

== History ==
{{See also|Cape Canaveral, Florida}}
[[File:1584-Canavaral.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|A section of a map from the 1584 edition of [[Abraham Ortelius]]'s {{lang|la|Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, Additamentum III}} showing the name {{lang|es|C. de Cañareal}}]]

Humans have occupied the area for at least 12,000 years.<ref>Zimmerman, Vera [http://www.rootsweb.com/~flbreva2/History/10K-1820.html  "The First Settlers, 10,000 BC to 1820"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214100728/http://www.rootsweb.com/~flbreva2/History/10K-1820.html|date=December 14, 2007}} Retrieved on August 11, 2007</ref>

During the middle [[Archaic period in the Americas|Archaic period]], from 5000 [[Before Christ|BC]] to 2000 BC, the [[Mount Taylor period]] culture region covered northeast Florida, including the area around Cape Canaveral. Late in the Archaic period, from 2000 BC to 500 BC, the Mount Taylor culture was succeeded by the [[Orange culture]], which was among the earliest cultures in [[North America]] to produce pottery. The Orange culture was followed by the [[St. Johns culture]], from 500 BC until after European contact. The area around the Indian River was in the Indian River variant of the St. Johns culture, with influences from the [[Belle Glade culture]] to the south.<ref>{{cite book|last=Milanich|first=Jerald T.|title=Archaeology of Precolumbian Florida|year=1994|publisher=University Press of Florida |location=Gainesville, Florida|isbn=0-8130-1273-2|pages=887–95, 244–247}}</ref>

During the [[Spanish Florida|first Spanish colonial period]] the area around the [[Indian River (Florida)|Indian River]], to the south of Cape Canaveral, was occupied by the [[Ais people]], while the area around the [[Mosquito Lagoon]], to the north of the Cape, was occupied by the [[Surruque]] people. The Surruque were allied with the Ais, but it is not clear whether the Surruque spoke a [[Timucua language]], or a language related to the [[Ais language]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Hann|first=John H.|title=Indians of Central and South Florida 1513–1763|year=2003|publisher=University Press of Florida|location=Gainesville, Florida|isbn=0-8130-2645-8|page=6}}</ref>

In the early 16th century, Cape Canaveral was noted on maps, although without being named. It was named by [[Spanish people|Spanish]] explorers in the first half of the 16th century as {{lang|es|Cabo Cañaveral}}. The name "Canaveral" ({{wikt-lang|es|cañaveral}} in [[Spanish language|Spanish]], meaning '[[reed bed]]' or '[[sugarcane]] [[plantation]]') is the third oldest surviving European place name in the United States.{{refn|[[Florida]] was named earlier, April 2, 1513, by [[Juan Ponce de León|Ponce de Leon]], whose men also named {{lang|es|Las Tortugas}}, now [[Dry Tortugas National Park|Dry Tortugas]]. From the account by Spanish historian [[Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas]] published in 1601<ref>{{cite book |title=Names on the Land: An Historical Account of Place-Naming in the United States |last=Stewart |first=George R. |year=1945 |publisher=Random House |location=New York |pages=11–13 }}</ref>|group=note}} The first application of the name, according to the [[Smithsonian Institution]], was from the 1521–1525 explorations of Spanish explorer [[Francisco Gordillo]].<ref name=spaceline>{{cite web |url=http://www.spaceline.org/capehistory/1a.html |title=The History of Cape Canaveral, Chapter 1: Cape Canaveral Before Rockets (B.C.–1948) |publisher=Spaceline, Inc. |access-date=December 29, 2008 }}</ref> A point of land jutting out into an area of the [[Atlantic Ocean]] with swift currents, it became a landing spot for many shipwrecked sailors. An early alternative name was "Cape of Currents". By at least 1564, the name appeared on maps.<ref name=spaceline/>

English privateer [[John Hawkins (naval commander)|John Hawkins]] and his journalist John Sparke gave an account of their landing at Cape Canaveral in the 16th century.<ref name=Chatelain1941>{{citation |last=Chatelain |first=Verne E. |year=1941 |title=The defenses of Spanish Florida: 1565 to 1763 |publisher=Carnegie Institution |series=Carnegie Institution of Washington publication, Nr. 511 |oclc=603544979 |page=10 }}</ref> A Presbyterian missionary was wrecked here and lived among the Indians.<ref name=Ranson1989>{{citation |last=Ranson |first=Robert |year=1989 |title=East Coast Florida Memoirs 1837 to 1886
|edition=reprint |publisher=Florida Classics Library |isbn=9780912451091 }}</ref> Other histories tell of French survivors from [[Jean Ribault]]'s colony at [[Fort Caroline]], whose ship the {{lang|fr|Trinité}} wrecked on the shores of Cape Canaveral in 1565, and built a fort from its timbers.<ref>Osborne 2008, p. 3</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=District Court finds the Shipwreck Discovered off the Coast of Florida is la Trinité from the Lost French Colony of Fort Caroline|url=https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2018/10/district-court-finds-the-shipwreck-discovered-off-the-coast-of-florida-is-la-trinit-from-the-lost-french-colony-of-fort-caroline/|date=October 2, 2018|first=Robert |last=Brammer|publisher=Library of Congress|access-date=November 23, 2022}}</ref>

In December 1571, [[Pedro Menéndez de Avilés|Pedro Menéndez]] was wrecked off the Coast of Cape Canaveral and encountered the Ais Indians.<ref name=RiverArchaeology>{{cite book|title=Survey of Indian River Archaeology|series=Yale University Publications in Anthropology 45|first=Irving|last=Rouse|year=1981|isbn=978-0-404-15668-8}}</ref> From 1605 to 1606, the [[List of colonial governors of Florida|Spanish Governor of Florida]] [[Pedro de Ibarra (governor of La Florida)|Pedro de Ibarra]] sent [[Alvaro Mexia]] on a diplomatic mission to the Ais Indian nation. The mission was a success; diplomatic ties were made and an agreement for the Ais to receive ransoms for all the shipwrecked sailors they returned.<ref name=RiverArchaeology/>

The first [[Cape Canaveral Light]]house was completed in January 1848 to warn ships of the coral shoals off the coast.<ref>[http://canaverallight.org/photo-gallery/cape-tour-2009/img_0338 "Img_0338 (Cape Canaveral Lighthouse Florida heritage marker)"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618013138/http://canaverallight.org/photo-gallery/cape-tour-2009/img_0338|date=June 18, 2013}} Cape Canaveral Lighthouse Foundation Retrieved on November 10, 2012</ref>

The hurricane of August 1885, pushed a "wall of water" over the barrier island (elevation, {{cvt|3.1|m}}) devastating Cape Canaveral and adjacent areas. The ocean waves flooded the [[homesteaders]] and discouraged further settlement in the area. The beach near the lighthouse was severely eroded prompting its relocation {{cvt|1.6|km}} west inland.<ref>Williams, John M. and Duedall, Iver W. [http://nsgl.gso.uri.edu/flsgp/flsgpb97001.pdf "Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms, Revised Edition" (from National Sea Grant Digital Library)] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404160413/http://nsgl.gso.uri.edu/flsgp/flsgpb97001.pdf|date=April 4, 2014}} page 7 University Press of Florida</ref>

The 1890 graduating class of [[Harvard University]] started a gun club called the "Canaveral Club" at the Cape.{{refn|The 1865 [[Jules Verne]] novel ''[[From the Earth to the Moon]]'' located its "Baltimore Gun Club" which sent the mission to the Moon about 100 miles away.{{cite book |title=Blazing the Trail: The Early History Spacecraft and Rocketry|series=Library of Flight |location=Reston, Virginia |publisher=International Academy of Aeronautics and Astronautics |date=2004 |author=Mike Gruntman |author-link=Mike Gruntman |isbn=978-1563477058|page=302}} |group=note }} This was founded by C. B. Horton of Boston and George H. Reed. A number of distinguished visitors including presidents [[Grover Cleveland]] and [[Benjamin Harrison]] were reported to have stayed here. In the 1920s, the grand building fell into disrepair and later burned to the ground.<ref>Osborne 2008, pp. 18–20</ref>

In the 20th century, several communities sprang up in Cape Canaveral with names like Canaveral, Canaveral Harbor, Artesia and De Soto Beach. While the area was predominantly a farming and fishing community, some visionaries saw its potential as a resort for vacationers. However, the [[Wall Street crash of 1929|stock market crash of 1929]] hampered its development.<ref>Osborne 2008, pp. 39–42</ref> In the 1930s, a group of wealthy journalists started a community called "Journalista Beach", now called Avon by the Sea. The Brossier brothers built houses in this area and started a publication entitled the ''Evening Star Reporter'' that was the forerunner of the ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]''.<ref>Osborne 2008, p. 40</ref>

Construction of [[Port Canaveral]] for military and commercial purposes was started in July 1950 and dedicated on November 4, 1953.<ref name=Patrick>[https://www.patrick.spaceforce.mil/?id=4514 "Evolution of the 45th Space Wing"] . Patrick Air Force Base Official Website Retrieved on October 13, 2013</ref> [[U.S. Congress|Congress]] approved the construction of a deep-water port in 1929, half a century after it was first petitioned by the [[U.S. Navy]] in 1878. It is now the major deep-water port of [[Central Florida]].<ref>[http://www.portcanaveral.com/general/history.php "A Proud History"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016051153/http://www.portcanaveral.com/general/history.php|date=October 16, 2013}} Port Canaveral Official Website Retrieved on October 13, 2013</ref>

=== Rocket launch site ===
{{Main|Cape Canaveral Space Force Station}}
[[File:Merritt Island.jpg|thumbnail|upright=1.0|right|[[Cape Canaveral Space Force Station]], in green, occupies northern Cape Canaveral; [[Kennedy Space Center]], in white, occupies northern Merritt Island]]

Cape Canaveral became the test site for missiles when the legislation for the [[Joint Long Range Proving Ground]] was passed by the [[81st Congress]] and signed by [[President of the United States|President]] [[Harry Truman]] on May 11, 1949. Work began on May 9, 1950, under a contract with the [[Houdaille Industries|Duval Engineering Company]] of [[Jacksonville, Florida]], to build the Cape's first paved access road and its first permanent launch site.<ref name=Patrick/>

The first rocket launched at the Cape was a [[V-2 rocket]] named [[RTV-G-4 Bumper|Bumper 8]] from [[Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 3|Launch Complex 3]] on July 24, 1950. On February 6, 1959, the first successful test firing of a [[Titan I|Titan intercontinental ballistic missile]] was accomplished. [[NASA]]'s [[Project Mercury]] and [[Project Gemini|Gemini]] space flights were launched from Cape Canaveral, as were [[Apollo program|Apollo]] flights using the [[Saturn I]] and [[Saturn IB]] rockets.<ref>Lethbridge, Clifford J. (2013) [http://www.spaceline.org/statistics/Cape_Canaveral_Launch_Chronology.html "Cape Canaveral Launch Chronology, From July 1950 to September 2013"] Spaceline.org Retrieved on October 13, 2013</ref>

Cape Canaveral was chosen for rocket launches to take advantage of the Earth's rotation. The linear velocity of the Earth's surface is greatest towards the [[equator]]; the relatively southerly location of the cape allows rockets to take advantage of this by launching eastward, in the same direction as the Earth's rotation. It is also highly desirable to have the [[downrange]] area sparsely populated, in case of accidents; an ocean is ideal for this.<ref name=KSC>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131006003823/http://kscvisit.com/cape-canaveral.html "Historical Programs – Cape Canaveral – The Cape Canaveral Name"] Kennedy Space Center official website Retrieved on October 13, 2013, Archived from the [http://kscvisit.com/cape-canaveral.html original] on October 6, 2013</ref> The east coast of Florida has logistical advantages over potential competing sites.<ref name=Patrick/> The [[Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 46|Spaceport Florida Launch Complex 46]] of the [[Cape Canaveral Space Force Station]] is the easternmost near the tip of the cape.<ref name=KSC/>

In 1999, the [[North American Numbering Plan Administration]] allocated telephone [[area code 321]] (as in a launch [[countdown]]) to the Cape Canaveral area in homage to its spacefaring heritage.<ref>{{cite news|date=November 23, 1999|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/23/science/3-2-1-call-cape-canaveral.html|title=3-2-1, Call Cape Canaveral|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=October 13, 2013|page=6}}</ref>

=== Name changes ===
A post office in the area was built and listed in the [[United States Post Office Department|U.S. Post Office]] application as "Artesia" and retained this name from 1893 to 1954.<ref>Osborne 2008, p. 42</ref> It was "Port Canaveral" from 1954 to 1962, and then the City of Cape Canaveral from 1962 to 1963, when a larger post office was built.

In 1963, President [[Lyndon Johnson]] issued an [[executive order]] renaming the area "Cape Kennedy", after President [[John F. Kennedy]], who had set the goal of landing on the [[Moon]]. After Kennedy's assassination in November 1963, his widow, [[Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis|Jacqueline Kennedy]], suggested to Johnson that renaming the Cape Canaveral facility would be an appropriate memorial. Johnson recommended the renaming of the entire cape, announced in a televised address on November 28, 1963, six days after the assassination, on [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] evening.<ref name=itknow>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U38eAAAAIBAJ&pg=1484%2C5225048|newspaper=Daytona Beach Morning Journal|location=Florida|agency=Associated Press|title=It's Cape Kennedy now |date=November 29, 1963|page=1}}</ref><ref name=ergnowck>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XPxVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6074%2C5282616|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard|location=Florida|last=Webb |first=Alvin B. Jr.|agency=United Press International|title=Cape Canaveral now Cape Kennedy|date=November 29, 1963|page=4A}}</ref><ref name=renct>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1963/11/29/page/1/article/u-s-hears-johnson-plea |newspaper=Chicago Tribune|last=Warden|first=Philip|title=Canaveral renamed for John F. Kennedy|date=November 29, 1963|page=1, sec. 1}}</ref><ref name=chtrb>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1963/11/30/page/3/article/capes-space-center-named-for-kennedy|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|title=Cape's space center named for Kennedy|date=November 30, 1963|page=3, sec. 1}}</ref> Accordingly, Cape Canaveral was officially [[geographical renaming|renamed]] Cape Kennedy.<ref name=KSC/><ref name=ckremdesp>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EIZHAAAAIBAJ&pg=4092%2C955393|newspaper=The Victoria Advocate|location=Texas|agency=Associated Press|title=Cape Kennedy remains despite the opposition|date=December 8, 1963|page=7A}}</ref> Kennedy's last visit to the space facility was on November 16, 1963, six days before his death;<ref name=ergpol>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=T_xVAAAAIBAJ&pg=4389%2C2766570|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard|location=Oregon|agency=Associated Press|title=JFK views test firing of Polaris|date=November 16, 1963|page=1A}}</ref><ref name=sarohet>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rdoeAAAAIBAJ&pg=3986%2C4496300|newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|location=Florida|agency=United Press International|title=Kennedy watches firing|date=November 17, 1963|page=1}}</ref>
<ref name=smshacp>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1963/11/17/page/1/article/stage-missile-show-at-cape-for-kennedy|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|last=Young|first=Robert|title=Stage missile show at Cape for Kennedy|date=November 17, 1963|page=1, sec. 1}}</ref> the [[Mercury-Atlas 9|final]] [[Project Mercury|Mercury]] mission had concluded six months earlier.

Although the name change was approved by the [[United States Board on Geographic Names|U.S. Board on Geographic Names]] of the [[United States Department of the Interior|Department of the Interior]] in December 1963,<ref>Osborne 2008, p. 88</ref> it was not popular in Florida from the outset,<ref name=ckremdesp/><ref name=cnchis>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1963/11/30/page/3/article/canaverals-name-change-isnt-simple|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|agency=Associated Press|title=Canaveral's name change isn't simple|date=November 30, 1963|page=3, sec. 1}}</ref><ref name=sasfcnv>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=190pAAAAIBAJ&pg=790%2C6949330|newspaper=Daytona Beach Morning Journal|location=Florida|agency=Associated Press|title=Senators ask for Canaveral|date=November 26, 1970 |page=17}}</ref> especially in the bordering [[Cape Canaveral, Florida|city of Cape Canaveral]]. In May 1973, the [[Florida Legislature]] passed a law restoring the former 400-year-old name,<ref name=happr>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5fEpAAAAIBAJ&pg=4882%2C941965|newspaper=Daytona Beach Morning Journal|location=Florida|title=House approves renaming Cape Kennedy|date=May 19, 1973 |page=2A}}</ref><ref>Fla. S.B. 217, ch. 73-369 (1973)</ref> and the Board went along. The name restoration to Cape Canaveral became official on October 9, 1973.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lethbridge |first=Clifford J. |title=Cape History |url=https://www.spaceline.org/history-cape-canaveral/history-cape-canaveral-chapter-3/ |access-date=March 23, 2011 |website=Spaceline.org}}</ref><ref name=ckisncc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=n41OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fPoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7245%2C2691579 |work=Lakeland Ledger |location=(Florida) |agency=(Washington Post) |title=Cape Kennedy is now Cape Canaveral |date=October 10, 1973 |page=8A}}</ref> [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Ted Kennedy]] had stated in 1970 that it was a matter to be decided by the citizens of Florida.<ref name=sasfcnv/> The [[Kennedy family]] issued a letter stating they "understood the decision". NASA's [[Kennedy Space Center]] retains the "Kennedy" name.<ref>{{cite web|title=Senate Hearing Slated on Renaming Cape|first=Clark|last=Hoyt|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SDfzw53OG5IC&dq=kennedy+family+understood+decision+to+change+cape+kennedy+to+cape+canaveral&pg=PA34|work=Miami Herald|date=February 16, 1972|access-date=November 23, 2022}}</ref>

The [[Project Gemini|Gemini]],<ref name=gsspspho>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qgBWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6902%2C1673489|work=Eugene Register-Guard|location=Oregon|agency=Associated Press |title=Gemini success spurs space hopes|date=April 9, 1964|page=2A}}</ref> [[Apollo program|Apollo]],<ref name=asllbgs>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JalVAAAAIBAJ&pg=1950%2C1636149 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard|location=Oregon|agency=Associated Press|title=Astronaut says: 'Little late, but good show!'|date=December 7, 1972|page=1A}}</ref> and the first [[Skylab]] missions were all launched while the area was named Cape Kennedy.<ref name=skluduetod>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YeVVAAAAIBAJ&pg=3163%2C6410296|newspaper=Eugene-Register-Guard|location=Oregon|agency=wire services|title=Skylab linkup due today|date=July 28, 1973|page=1A}}</ref> The first crewed launch under the restored name of Cape Canaveral was [[Skylab&nbsp;4]], the final Skylab mission, on November 16, 1973.<ref name=sasetfo>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z-MpAAAAIBAJ&pg=3778%2C4892|newspaper=Daytona Beach Morning Journal|location=Florida|title=Skylab astronauts set for 9:01 launch today|date=November 16, 1973 |page=1A}}</ref><ref name=sdcthrd>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=36dYAAAAIBAJ&pg=6498%2C5079|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|location=Washington|agency=Associated Press|title=Third Skylab crew fired aloft|date=November 16, 1973|page=1}}</ref>