The model of Christopher Pike’s starship is back where it belongs after nearly 50 years.
No, this is not the story of the 11-foot USS Enterprise from Star Trek: The Original Series, which is safely docked at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum to this day. Rather, the following video (courtesy of BEAM by Roddenberry), which fans can watch below, is the incredible account of the original starship Enterprise model featured in the first Star Trek pilot, “The Cage.”
And after almost five decades, the 33-inch model is back in the hands of creator Gene Roddenberry’s family after having sat on the Star Trek founder's desk for years.
Roddenberry’s son Rod, who now owns and takes care of the model Enterprise also discussed his plans for sharing this piece of science fiction Americana with the masses. “I want it to go to a museum, and [I’m] trying to figure out sort of which one," Roddenberry says in the video. "Where it would be best preserved and kept — and available for people to see. This needs to be out for long time. I mean, hopefully forever.”
Ultimately, “The Cage” didn’t make the cut and another pilot (“Where No Man Has Gone Before”) was ordered by NBC, but the unaired show’s model ship has to be one of the oldest living pieces of Star Trek memorabilia in existence.
And, as a lifelong Star Trek fan, it’s wonderful to know the original Enterprise model is safe and sound in the orbit of Rod Roddenberry after having been lost way back in 1979 — rather than ending up with someone who might not understand its cultural significance.
Of course, my favorite part of the video is when Roddenberry revealed that Christopher Pike’s (Jeffrey Hunter) Enterprise spends its days in the friendly confines of his fuse-less sauna. That is until the proper public venue can be found for the classic model.
What was your favorite part(s) of the starship’s story featured in the first episode of Inside the Roddenberry Archive? Share your choice(s) with us on the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages. And fans can take a closer look at the Enterprise model, courtesy of Rod Robbenberry's Instagram account below.
Live long and prosper, Trekkies!
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