Slidell

During the 1960s a "high-speed" computer generally occupied an entire room, or perhaps several rooms.

Computing services were required for the activities at the Mississippi Test Facility (subsequently renamed to the Stennis Space Center) and Michoud Operations (subsequently renamed to the Michoud Assembly Facility). Marshall Space Flight Center (which, at the time, oversaw both facilities) established a major computer center to serve them both.

There was a former Federal Aviation Administration building in Slidell, Louisiana, located 20 miles from Michoud and 15 miles from MTF. MSFC acquired this facility in the summer of 1962 and spent $2 million on modifications and the installation of new equipment, including digital and analog computers for test, checkout, simulation, and engineering studies. It was, at the time, one of the largest computer installations in the country.

We did not visit Slidell, but when I saw the road signs for it, I got out my camera.