Mercury 7 Monument History

From old Press release:

The Mercury seven monument honoring the initial United States man-in-space program and marking the launching site of the nations pioneering manned orbital flights was dedicated at Cape Kennedy Florida November 10th 1964. The dedication Ceremonies conducted jointly by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the United States Air Force, and General Dynamics Corporation. General Dynamics, builder of the Atlas space launch vehicle, erected the monument as a public service and donated it during the services to the United States. Principal features of the stainless steel monument is a 13 foot high astrolonomical symbol for the planet Mercury. A number 7 in the center of the symbol represents the nations original seven astronauts. At the base of the monument is a bronze tablet bearing the commerative inscription and a bronze medallion with the faces of the seven original astronauts in high relief. The 2 1/2 foot medallion was sculptured by Ralph J. Menconi, a director of the Municipal Art Society of New York City. A limited number of miniature medallions, duplicates of the massive original, were struck for presentation as mementos of the Project Mercury Program.

There is a time capsule buried beneath the monument filled with Project Mercury artifacts scheduled to be opened in 2464. During Glen escorted tours, he jokingly says, if you hold a tour ticket stub you can have a free tour for the opening.