Houston Astrodome at 50: the global 'wonder' now a decaying shell

Texans on Thursday marked the 50th birthday of the Houston Astrodome, the world's first fully air-conditioned multipurpose domed stadium, once dubbed a global wonder and now a decaying structure with an uncertain future. The Astrodome, which has been gutted and vacant for years, was open to the public for a two-hour ceremony attended by thousands to celebrate the edifice christened on April 9, 1965, when New York Yankees great Mickey Mantle hit in a home run at an exhibition game. When it opened in 1965 at a cost of $35 million to build, it was dubbed "The Eighth Wonder of the World" and hosted events including a Judy Garland concert and Billy Graham Christian Crusade. The Houston Astros baseball team, who called it home, finished one spot out of last place in the National League that year with outfielders of all stripes ducking for cover from fly balls that got lost in the glare of the ceiling panels.

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