West Hills near Simi Valley in Ventura County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Rocketdyne Santa Susana Field Laboratory
AIAA Historic Aerospace Site
Erected 2001 by American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the AIAA Historic Aerospace Sites series list.
Location. 34° 14.149′ N, 118° 40.493′ W. Marker is near Simi Valley, California, in Ventura County. It is in West Hills. Marker is on Facility Road south of Woolsey Canyon Road, on the left when traveling south. Located in the SSFL property, only open during occasional tours by the current owner, Boeing. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: West Hills CA 91307, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Santa Susana Railroad Depot (approx. 1.9 miles away); Silvertown (approx. 2.2 miles away); a different marker also named Silvertown (approx. 2.3 miles away); T.R. Craig Residence (approx. 2.3 miles away); Orcutt Ranch (approx. 2.3 miles away); Ancient Live Oaks And Old Mission Lime Kilns (approx. 2.4 miles away); Vendetta Village (approx. 2.4 miles away); a different marker also named Vendetta Village (approx. 2.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Simi Valley.
More about this marker. A replica of this marker is located at Aerojet Rocketdyne in Canoga Park.
Regarding Rocketdyne Santa Susana Field Laboratory. SSFL was a research facility used mainly for the testing of rocket engines from 1949 to 2006, and nuclear reactors from 1953 to 1980. The site ended research operations in 2006. The years of rocket testing and nuclear reactor testing have left the site significantly contaminated. Environmental cleanup is ongoing. The facility is not open to the public except during occasional guided tours by the current owner, Boeing.
At the marker dedication ceremony in 2001, attendees had the opportunity to witness a rocket motor test (including me, -CB).
Located within the Santa Susana Field Laboratory is Burro Flats Painted Cave, with the best-preserved Indian pictographs in Southern California, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. — The replica marker at Aerojet Rocketdyne in Canoga Park.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 6, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 875 times since then and 97 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 6, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on May 3, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.