The Enterprise has risen. In 1964, model maker Richard C. Datin constructed the first physical incarnation of the most famous fictional starship of all time. Designed by artist Matt Jefferies, the aesthetic of the Enterprise, overseen by Gene Roddenberry, was a blend of science fiction art from the previous decade and theoretical aerospace concepts of the time.
But before Datin built it, the Enterprise that launched Star Trek 60 years ago simply didn’t exist. This model was 33 inches long and was the first version of the Enterprise ever put to film. In fact, this is the Enterprise that was filmed for the opening credits of the series, which became one of the most enduring opening titles in any TV show, ever. “The Enterprise has always been the first character of Star Trek,” Rod Roddenberry, son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, tells Inverse. “This isn’t something I want sitting on my shelf. It deserves to be preserved and shared.”
