Cincinnati museum to honor Armstrong with Apollo 11 exhibit
Art Deco masterpiece.
The first phase of the exhibit will include a 360-degree theater with an immersive recounting of the moon landing; and a display of rare artifacts, including several items worn by Armstrong on his trip to the moon.
“Neil Armstrong was a close friend of this institution, and we are going to honor him,” in the first phase of the exhibit, said Dave Duszynski, the center’s vice president of featured experiences.
Among other artifacts to be displayed is a moon rock donated (with permission of NASA) by Armstrong to the institution.
“It’s very rare and special that this rock was actually picked up during the Apollo 11 mission,” Duszynski said.
Phase II of the exhibit, to open later in 2019 or early 2020, will add interactive and virtual-reality elements and use realtime NASA briefings and information.
While the first phase of the exhibit will celebrate the past, “we’re going to use that past to launch us into the future,” Duszynski said.
“Phase II will look at going back to the moon and to Mars, at the challenges and reasons to go," he said.
In all, the new exhibit will encompass 6,000 square feet; a tiny part of the universe, to be sure, but enough space to tell the exciting story of mankind’s first small steps toward exploring the moon and beyond.
For more information about the Cincinnati Museum Center and the new Space Exploration Gallery, call 1-800-733-2077 or visit www.cincy museum.org.
Steve Stephens is the Dispatch Home and Travel writer. Email him at sstephens@ dispatch.com or follow him on Twitter @ Stevestephens