AUBURN, Mass. (Aug. 15, 2025) — Fire crews helped remove a decommissioned Polaris missile from Goddard Park on Friday, ending its four-decade presence in town as the site undergoes renovations.

The missile, long a landmark at the park, had deteriorated with structural damage and interior rot. Officials said it had even become home to bee colonies.

In July, the Auburn Select Board voted to donate the missile to the EcoTarium in Worcester. The museum plans to restore the artifact and feature it in its space exhibit.

“This is a great opportunity for this piece of history to have new life to educate people for generations to come,” the Auburn Fire Rescue Department said in a statement.