I added another stamp to my Ohio History Connection passport when Tom and I visited the Armstrong Air and Space Museum. I had visited the museum in 1972, the year it opened, with my family. But that was a very long time ago and a lot has happened in space since then. Tom had never visited. He had driven by it numerous times but never stopped. When he mentioned this to the man at the information desk, the man pointed out a t-shirt that said exactly the same thing! I guess a lot of people say that.
The Armstrong Air and Space Museum is dedicated to Neil Armstrong who was born and raised in Wapakoneta, Ohio. He was also the first person to walk on the moon. One side of the museum contains memorabilia related to Armstrong’s life and career. The museum has an actual Gemini capsule and Armstrong’s space suit. One advantage to opening the museum so close to the time of the moon walk is the ability to acquire lots of things related to the moon walk.
There are some good timelines about the United States and Russia and the space race. There is a timeline about Armstrong’s life and another about space exploration since the first moon walk. The middle of the museum houses a theater that shows a movie about Armstrong and the Apollo missions.
The other side of the museum continues the story about space exploration. There were displays on the Space Shuttle missions and on the short-lived Spacelab. The International Space Station had a display. I was especially intrigued by the display on the astronauts currently living on the International Space Station.
The gift shop was underwhelming with very few books for adults on space exploration. Most of the things for sale were trinkets for kids. The doors to the restrooms had Venus for Women and Mars for Men. Cute!
Tom and I both found the Armstrong Air and Space Museum very interesting and worth the visit. Because of our membership in the Ohio History Connection, our admission was free. The normal admission cost is $15 per adult. The museum is open seven days a week from 10 through 5 through the summer, but closed on Mondays from Labor Day through March.
