There are a few small neighborhoods that dot the landscape in the Research Park area, the most unique community being the Village of Providence. However, it is mostly recognized for its' industrial community, Cummings Research Park.
The Research Park Area showcases the most notable landmark in Huntsville, the Saturn V replica at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. It is a full- scale replica of the Saturn V moon rocket that measures 363 feet. The actual Saturn V prototype can be viewed on its' side, inside the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.
Options abound for food, shopping, and entertainment in this vibrant corner of Huntsville. For a unique and elegant night on the town nothing can beat Bridge Street Town Centre. It is an outdoor shopping mall with restaurants like P.F. Chang's, Connors Steakhouse, and the Melting Pot. There is a wide array of shops such as Mountain High Outfitters, the Gap, Anthropologie, and so much more to tempt the pocketbook plus Barnes and Noble and Apple store. It's beautifully laid out and when the street performers are present it feels more like you're on vacation than merely taking in a movie at the Monaco or selecting a treat at the Chocolate Crocodile.
There are a few small neighborhoods that dot the landscape in the Research Park area, the most unique community being the Village of Providence. However, it is mostly recognized for its' industrial community, Cummings Research Park.
During the 1960's, NASA's George C. Marshall Space Flight Center developed the Saturn boosters used by NASA in the Apollo Lunar Landing Program. The organization greatly increased its' employees and created a draw for many new companies to join the Huntsville industrial community. Cummings Research Park was developed just north of Redstone Arsenal to partially accommodate this industrial growth, and has now become the second largest research park of this type in America and the 4th largest in the world. Some of its' main industries are software development, biotechnology, engineering, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and defense.
ADTRAN, Lockheed Martin, and Hewlett-Packard are just a sample of the nearly 300 companies that occupy its' 3,843 acres.
There are a few Elementary and Middle Schools that Research Park Area homes feed into and Columbia High School. There are also satellite locations for Calhoun Community College and Faulkner University. Also, located within its' boundaries is the University of Alabama in Huntsville. UAH is a chief research and technology university. UAH has partnered with NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and the Department of Defense, as well as, private and commercial organizations to provide research. It also provides opportunities to earn degrees in Engineering, Nursing, Business, Liberal Arts, and Science.