The Secret Artemis II Downtown Art Trail officially returned to downtown Huntsville this week, relaunching a space-themed scavenger hunt designed to celebrate the city’s decades-long role in America’s space program while encouraging residents and visitors to explore the urban core.

First introduced in 2022 to commemorate NASA’s inaugural Artemis launch, the interactive trail once again featured ten one-foot-tall Artemis rocket models hidden throughout downtown Huntsville. The experience invited participants of all ages to search for the miniature rockets while learning about Huntsville’s more than 70-year legacy as a hub for space exploration.

The relaunch was hosted by the Rocket City Artemis II Community Planning Committee in partnership with Teledyne Brown Engineering and Downtown Huntsville, Inc. The trail’s return was marked by a community celebration on December 16 at the Mayor’s Tinsel Trail Tree in Big Spring Park West.

Speakers at the event included Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon, Marshall Space Flight Center Interim Director Rae Ann Meyer and Ron Poteat, interim CEO of Downtown Huntsville, Inc.

“Huntsville has been intertwined with space exploration for more than seventy years, and the Secret Artemis II Trail is a creative way to celebrate that legacy while inspiring the next generation,” Poteat said. “By bringing space-themed art into our streets and public spaces, we’re reminding our community that Huntsville’s role in reaching for the stars doesn’t just live inside laboratories and launch pads. It lives in our downtown, our small businesses and our local artists.”

Organizers designed the trail as a free, family-friendly activity that doubles as a walking tour of downtown. Participants can begin the experience by picking up an official trail card at the Downtown Huntsville, Inc. office or the Huntsville Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The card lists general areas where the rockets are hidden, leaving explorers to locate each one on their own.

Once all ten rockets are found, participants can follow the instructions on the back of the trail card to receive an official Artemis II vinyl sticker. Organizers said the reward adds an extra incentive for families and visitors to complete the full route and spend time downtown.

The trail also highlighted Huntsville’s ongoing role in NASA’s Artemis program. Artemis II builds on the success of the uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022 and will be the first Space Launch System flight to carry astronauts. The 10-day mission will send four astronauts around the Moon, marking the farthest humans have traveled from Earth in more than half a century.

Several key components of the Space Launch System were designed and built in Huntsville, including the Launch Vehicle Stage Adapter produced by Teledyne Brown Engineering. Organizers said those local contributions made downtown an ideal setting to showcase the city’s influence on the future of human spaceflight.

The Secret Artemis II Downtown Art Trail remains available for the public, offering a way for families, tourists and space enthusiasts to enjoy downtown Huntsville while engaging with the city’s aerospace heritage.

Additional information about the trail is available through Downtown Huntsville, Inc. or the Huntsville Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau.