The space shuttle program in the United States its beginning back to the mid-1970s when the Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) decided to create fleet of reusable orbiters. The first shuttle manufactured the Enterprise, which was named after the Star , starship from the 1960s television series. The first shuttle, Columbia, was launched into space in April . The last mission to space for the shuttle was carried out by the shuttle Atlantis in 2011. In all, six orbiters were built including shuttle Endeavour, which can be seen today at California Science Center in Los Angeles, California.

More 20 organizations throughout the country petitioned to become to the retired shuttle in 2012, but Los gained the prize. Transporting such a huge and machine was no easy task. It landed at Los Angeles International Airport on September 12, 2012, three weeks later began its journey through the of L.A. to the California Science Center in Park.

The orbiter encountered a few problems during 12-mile journey, and it drew thousands of spectators the streets to catch a glimpse of the spacecraft. Endeavour required a police escort through temporarily streets. More than 400 oak trees were cut to clear the path for the shuttle; power and telephone poles had to be removed to the behemoth. Endeavour also had difficulty crossing bridges the city, but in the end, the shuttle its final destination.

Today, the Endeavour exhibit can seen at the Samuel Oschin Pavilion at the Science Center in Los Angeles. It is a of American history that is a must-see attraction all visitors to the greater Los Angeles area.