On the side of the newly opened 106 Jefferson, the Hilton Curio Hotel in Downtown Huntsville, are these two delightful creatures. I knew their names as soon as I realized they were up there. They are Able and Baker, the first primates that went into space on a Redstone Rocket designed here in town. Yes, they returned safely, although Able died a few days later from post-flight surgery complications. Baker, whom I had the privilege of meeting, lived out her remaining days of retirement and leisure here at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and is buried there. 106 Jefferson, still under construction in these photos, has a roof-top bar and grill named after these two monkeys.
I'm from Huntsville, Alabama where I work as a Software Engineer and part-time banjo instructor. My wife Miiko and I worship at Rivertree Downtown.
I've been playing various instruments since my teen years. I started mandolin and dulcimer at about age 17 and banjo at 20. I love just about all kinds of music. In terms of banjo styles, I play and teach Scruggs, melodic, clawhammer, and 2-finger styles.
I'm also very keen on theology, being a Trail Care Partner with the Land Trust of North Alabama, photography, urban planning, architecture, astronomy, ATM (amateur telescope making), birding, martial arts, and about 30 other distracting hobbies to a (mercifully) lesser extent.
Phill Gibson 
Interesting! I didn’t know about this.
Thanks – yep, they are pretty new (the statues); they have only been up there for a month or so, the real monkeys were from back in the 60s!