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Long-Lost Piece of ‘Star Trek’ History Finally Authenticated

First 'Enterprise' model returned after decades missing.

A wooden model of Starship Enterprise 1701 from the iconic TV show 'Star Trek' has been authenticated. [Credit: Willrow Hood / Shutterstock]
A wooden model of Starship Enterprise 1701 from the iconic TV show 'Star Trek' has been authenticated. [Credit: Willrow Hood/Shutterstock]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The original 3-foot Starship USS Enterprise model, personal property of franchise creator Gene Roddenberry and missing for over 45 years, has been positively identified.
  • The model resurfaced on eBay in 2023, was authenticated by experts and Gene Roddenberry's son, Rod Roddenberry, and subsequently returned to the family.
  • Used for publicity for the 1964 pilot, the model disappeared around 1978 after being loaned out, and Rod Roddenberry plans to preserve and eventually display it in a museum.
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The first model of Star Trek‘s Starship USS Enterprise that was the personal property of franchise creator Gene Roddenberry and has been missing for more than 45 years has been positively identified as the real deal.

The model showed up on eBay in 2023, but the auction was quickly taken down when the seller learned the model might have been stolen.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

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