Carolyn Hudson still remembers the day Uhura came to town.

And it was one of the Trekkiest days in Riverside’s long Trek Fest history.

Nichelle Nichols carved all kinds of Hollywood paths when she played Lt. Nyota Uhura in Star Trek’s original TV series and then in some of the Trek movies that followed. And one day in late June 2009 she came to Riverside with co-stars George Takei (Mr. Sulu) and Walter Koenig (Chekov).

It was the only time three of the original Star Trek actors appeared in the same Trek Fest, and as it turns out, for the final time.

Nichols died of “natural causes” at age 89 on July 30, according to her son, Kyle Johnson.

Hudson, who was staffing the Voyage Home Museum this past Saturday in Riverside on a day when temperatures topped 90 degrees, was standing at the same counter 13 years ago on a similarly hot day when Nichols walked in.

“It was a very hot day, and we had Nichelle, Walter and George in the museum to rest a little between the parade and the other events,” Hudson said. “Both Walter and George were such gentlemen. Their main concern was to make sure Nichelle was taken care of.”

Hudson, just as she did Saturday to cool herself, pulled out a hand fan from behind the counter.

“I usually carry a folding hand fan and gave it to Nichelle to help cool her off,” Hudson said. “She played the great southern lady with that fan. She spread it out and slowly and with great finesse waved it around like the great lady she was.”

Nichelle took the fan home.

“I, of course, let her keep the fan, as I was her fan,” Hudson said.

In return, Nichelle autographed photos that are still in the gallery at the museum.

The 25th anniversary of Trek Fest in 2009 included autograph, photo and question-and-answer sessions in front of hundreds with Nichols, Takai and Koenig, along with the parade. Nichols joined her co-stars in judging a costume contest.

Nichols was one of the first Black women to take on a major role in a TV series and drew the praise of many, including the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Nichols said her interracial kiss with William Shatner, who played USS Enterprise Cpt. James T. Kirk, “changed television forever.”

Nichols went on to help NASA achieve diversity, recruiting Sally Ride and other astronauts.

Her death has produced praise and comments across social media, including from her co-stars.

“For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend,” Takai wrote on his Twitter account.

“The importance of Nichelle’s legacy cannot be over-emphasized,” said Adam Nimoy, son of legendary Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy. “She was much loved and will be missed.”

A statement by The Obama Foundation on Twitter read: “Throughout her career she helped blaze new trails on Earth and in space, inspiring so many young people to reimagine their own future.”