HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Cosmosphere Innovation Space in Kansas City and BluHawk today announced that the Mercury spacecraft Liberty Bell 7 will be the early centerpiece of a new exhibition by Cosmosphere Innovation Space at BluHawk in Overland Park. “We have an exceptional plan that meets the needs of Cosmosphere, BluHawk and the public, which is eager to see tremendous exhibits like Liberty Bell 7 as soon as possible,” Jim Remar, President/CEO of the Cosmosphere, said. “Opening a temporary Cosmosphere location in early 2019 is a big win for all parties as we continue forward with the plans for our satellite location at BluHawk.”

The Cosmosphere Innovation Space will leverage the critical mass of crowds that BluHawk will generate in its first phase, including visitors to BluHawk Sports Park scheduled to break ground in 2019 and open the following year. Not only did the Cosmosphere assist with the location and recovery of Liberty Bell 7, but its SpaceWorks division restored and preserved the spacecraft—one of many NASA restoration projects in which SpaceWorks has been involved.

This exhibit will give visitors to BluHawk a chance to better understand history and the role Mercury missions and astronauts like Gus Grissom played in helping the United States win the Space Race. “We are very pleased that Overland Park residents and visitors will have an early look at this historic exhibit and others. Providing unique opportunities to shop, dine and experience is the foundation upon which BluHawk is built,” Doug Price, President of Price Brothers, said. “This new exhibition is a great venue for Cosmosphere to test new ideas while we are developing extensive plans for its new satellite location.”

A NASA Team II Mission Control exhibit will follow Liberty Bell 7 in the second quarter of 2019 and other exhibits will rotate on a regular basis.