If officially designated, the Dome would join an elite list.

HOUSTON — It’s a major breakthrough for Houston’s iconic Astrodome. The National Park Service now says the Dome qualifies for consideration as a National Historic Landmark. 

If it’s officially designated, it would join an elite list of fewer than 3,000 sites nationwide recognized for their significance in American history and innovation. 

Opened back in 1965, the Astrodome was the world’s first domed air-conditioned stadium, earning its nickname as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” 

It’s important to note this recognition does not mean that the Dome is a National Historic Landmark. That ultimately needs approval from the Secretary of the Interior.

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The Astrodome, approximately six miles southwest of downtown Houston, last hosted a scheduled event in 2002. The facility lost its certificate of occupancy in 2009, and the ground level has since been used for storage.

Over the years, there have been multiple plans and projects aimed at renovating or removing the Astrodome, though today, it still stands unused.

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