Star Trek: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Vulcans

You don't have to travel 16 light-years to visit Vulcan: it's right here on Earth in Southern Alberta, Canada. The Town of Vulcan may pre-date Star Trek, having been named in 1910 by a surveyor after the Roman god of fire, but it has certainly embraced the connection. In 1995, the town erected a giant replica of the Enterprise-A and in 1998 built a tourist centre called 'Trek Station,' designed to look like a 'landed spaceship'. Attracting fans from around the world, Vulcan was awarded the title of 'official Star Trek Capital of Canada' in 2010 and hosts the VulCON Star Trek convention each year in July, and 'Spock Days' in June.

Leonard Nimoy also paid a visit to the town in 2010, not long before his retirement. To the fans that lined the streets in costume to greet him, he said, "I have been a Vulcan for forty-four years. I figured it was time I came home". Nimoy, who had previously supported the town's eventually unsuccessful attempt to host the world premiere of Star Trek (2009), laid down his handprint in the traditional Vulcan salute and unveiled a bronze bust of Spock made in his honour.

To pay tribute to his father after he had passed away, Adam Nimoy visited Vulcan in 2016 to unveil a plaque that was placed beneath the bust of Spock, reading, "In Loving Memory of Leonard Nimoy. We have been and always shall be your friend".