Division Releases

Ohio Commemorates 40th Anniversary of Apollo 11 Lunar Landing
Ohio aviation, space sites showcase innovation, history of flight from Wright Brothers to space
7/17/2009

CONTACT:
Tamara Brown at (614) 466-8591

COLUMBUS, Ohio (July 17, 2009) – It seems appropriate that it was an Ohioan who first stepped on the moon some 40 years ago on July 20, 1969. After all, Neil Armstrong of Wapakoneta, Ohio, followed some other well-known Ohioans including Dayton’s Wright Brothers and John Glenn from New Concord. Even as Armstrong uttered those famous words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” it surely was not apparent how Ohio would remain intertwined with the air and space industries. Fast forward 40 years, and one finds Ohio still producing explorers with “the right stuff” – more astronauts have come from Ohio than any other state – and numerous museums and hands-on experiences that may encourage a new generation of aviation and space pioneers to dream big dreams.

“It’s an exciting time for Ohio as we commemorate the legacy of Wapakoneta’s own Neil Armstrong and the path he and all of the Apollo astronauts paved to modern-day space exploration,” said State Tourism Director Amir Eylon. “Given Ohio’s tremendous contributions to air and space engineering and exploration, I can think of no better place to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Sites across Ohio have organized some outstanding events and exhibits that will wow visitors.”

Following is a list of events and attractions that are truly out of this world! For additional space and aviation attractions throughout Ohio, visit www.DiscoverOhio.com or call 1-800-BUCKEYE.

Summer Moon Festival, Wapakoneta (July 13-20, 2009)
Armstrong’s hometown of Wapakoneta is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11’s moon landing with a week-long series of events July 13 – 20. Check out the world’s largest moon pie -- 55 pounds and 45,000 calories – to be unveiled on Friday, July 17 followed by a moon pie eating contest on Sunday. And for anyone who has ever thought the moon just might be made of cheese, an 1,800-pound block will be carved into a life-sized astronaut. Enjoy a spectacular display of thousands of American flags and daily events, a large community festival in downtown Wapakoneta, children’s activities and other celebrations to honor this giant leap for mankind.

Armstrong Air and Space Museum, Wapakoneta
The Armstrong Air & Space Museum is offering half off admission to visitors ($4 adults) and free admission to residents of Auglaize County on July 20th. Also on the 20th, commemorative postal covers with a special cancellation by the Wapakoneta Post Office will be on sale. Ohioans were instrumental in making spaceflight a reality, and this is the place to explore the history and innovations that led up to the lunar landing. Some of the exhibit highlights include equipment from Apollo missions such as lunar drills, space food, in-flight suits and a passive seismic experiment package. Also featured are the Gemini VIII spacecraft flown by Armstrong and David Scott, Armstrong's Gemini spacesuit and a video presentation about Project Gemini. One of the most fascinating sections of the museum is the Infinity Room, a 16-cubic-foot room lined entirely with mirrors that simulates the vastness of space.

NASA Glenn 40th Anniversary of Apollo 11, Cleveland (July 18, 2009)
On a normal day, the NASA Glenn Visitor Center is an exciting place to experience 6,000 square feet of interactive exhibits where visitors can conduct microgravity experiments in a drop tower, count down to a simulated rocket launch at the “Launch Control Center,” try out the Columbia training module and see the Apollo Command module used on Skylab 3. But on July 18, the NASA Glenn Visitor Center is offering a tour of the Abe Silverstein Supersonic Wind Tunnel and Zero Gravity Research Facility. Also known as the 10x10, the wind tunnel can create winds that travel faster than three times the speed of sound. The Zero Gravity Research Facility is a drop tower scientists use to create the weightlessness of space. A one-third scale model of the Lunar Lander will also be on display for the first time in several years. Reservations are strongly suggested. Call (216) 433-9653 to celebrate this other-worldly anniversary! Please note that NASA Glenn is a secure research facility and maintains strict identification/entry requirements; see Web site for details.

Blast Off! Families Exploring Space Together, Children’s Museum of Cleveland
Opened in May of this year, the Blast Off! exhibit was developed in collaboration with experts at NASA’s Glenn Research Center to allow young children to pretend, play and explore space in a fun and creative atmosphere. Children love this hands-on environment where they can count down to launch in Mission Control, wear a space suit and explore the lunar surface while learning about gravity by manipulating a lunar rover. Additional areas provide opportunities to imagine what it’s like to stay in space on the Space Station, learn about space food and even sleep on a wall.

Return to the Moon, Great Lakes Science Center, Cleveland (opens July 20, 2009)
This exhibition tells the story of the Constellation Program, NASA’s new program for human spaceflight, and its major goal of returning astronauts to the moon by 2020. In conjunction with NASA Glenn Research Center, the Science Center has developed more than twenty exhibits that take visitors on a journey from the Earth to the Moon and highlight the new spacecraft being developed: the Orion crew exploration vehicle, the Altair lunar lander and the Ares family of launch boosters. In Return to the Moon, visitors can take their own spacewalk with amazing interactive experiences including building a spacecraft that can withstand the stresses of launch, explore a map of lunar landings, try your hand at landing the lunar lander Altair or the Apollo Lunar Module, operate a remote-controlled lunar rover and more.

Family Day: Apollo 11, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Dayton (July 18, 2009)
The National Museum of the United States Air Force is the world's oldest and largest military aviation museum. The museum's galleries present military aviation history and boast more than 400 aircraft and aerospace vehicles on display ranging from the Wright Brothers to the latest stealth and unmanned aerospace vehicles. On July 18, visitors can build and launch paper rockets from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. in the Modern Flight Gallery, while younger visitors can create their own paper astronauts. Aerospace Demonstration Stations, located throughout the galleries, will highlight the amazing principles of rocket flight. One station will even have actual samples of lunar regolith (dust) and rocks! Other stations will demonstrate microgravity (free-fall) and neutral buoyancy (how an astronaut trains for spacewalking). This family-friendly event is free to all visitors.

National Aviation Hall of Fame, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Dayton
The National Aviation Hall of Fame celebrates the ingenuity, vision and courage of the remarkable men and women who gave wings to our dreams. It is well worth a stop by this facility to learn more about the people who defended our country and advanced our flight technology from daring flying machines to space travel. The 2009 National Aviation Hall of Fame Class to be enshrined on July 19 includes: Eileen M. Collins, the Air Forces first female flight instructor and first woman to pilot a space shuttle in 1995 and in 1999 became the first woman Shuttle Commander; Russell Meyer, Jr. of the Cessna Aircraft Company; Brigadier General James M. “Jimmy” Stewart; and Edward Higgins White III, who made America’s first spacewalk in 1962 and died in the Apollo I Spacecraft fire during a launch pad test in 1967. This year’s Milton Caniff Spirit of Flight Award will honor the Apollo Astronaut crews for their role in enabling man to walk on the lunar surface and return safely to earth. The Hall of Fame Enshrinee Ceremony will be broadcast live at 7 p.m. on July 18 on: http://www.liveairshowtv.com/.

John and Annie Glenn Historic Site, New Concord
Housed in John Glenn's boyhood home on Main Street in New Concord, the John and Annie Glenn Historic Site recognizes and honors the lives of the Glenns and relates the story of 20th-century America through the prism of their lives. Visitors to Glenn’s boyhood home are greeted by costumed characters who tell stories of Glenn’s life during the Great Depression. Tours also include a movie on the lives of John & Annie Glenn and a guided tour of the top floor where visitors see Glenn's bedroom, a toy room and galleries containing special childhood treasures and memorabilia from his military, political and space careers.

About the Ohio Tourism Division
The Ohio Tourism Division is the premier source of information for travelers and media about Ohio’s vibrant tourism experiences, attractions, and economy. Division marketing programs contributed to an estimated $39 billion in total sales in 2008 and 452,000 jobs sustained by visitors to the state. A part of the Ohio Department of Development, the Division’s mission is to promote and celebrate Ohio’s unique travel opportunities and market the state’s outstanding quality of life.

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