 The town's growth has been steady though slow since the late 20th century, based on a mixture of education, services, tourism, and retail.The presence of AEDC and the Space Institute, combined with a convenient proximity to the aerospace center of Huntsville, Alabama, has bred a small but thriving aeronautical industry as well.A national aircraft preservation museum, Beechcraft Heritage Museum, was established on grounds south of the city's municipal airport.