The Astrodome in Houston is Now Designated as a Texas Historic Landmark

Once known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World," Houston's historic Astrodome has now been designated as a Texas Historic Landmark.

According to YourBasin.com, May 29, 2018 became the day that the Astrodome was declared a historic landmark with a marker to designate it as that placed outside the abandoned structure.

The Astrodome opened on April 9, 1965 with an exhibition baseball game between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees.

The structure was home to the Houston Astros and the NFL's Houston Oilers for decades until Houston Oilers owner Bud Adams moved the Oilers to Tennessee after the 1996 season, and then a few years later the Astros moved to their new home now called Minute Maid Field.

Once the two teams who called it home for several years moved out, the stadium was used for high school events and other regional sporting events but soon was not used at all once the expansion Houston Texans built Reliant Stadium right next door to welcome the new Houston NFL team to the league in 2002.

Debates on what to do with the decaying stadium went back and forth for years from demolishing it to renovating it and then Harris County officials last year approved a $105 million renovation project for the stadium.

Now that the dome has just been deemed a historical landmark, and receiving a state

antiquities designation last year, the Texas Historical Commission has to approve any and all changes to the dome and also provides special safeguards against demolition.

The $105 million renovation project is set to begin within the next year.