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Man in Space Resource Description

OTHER SPACE MUSEUMS AND FACILITIES

The following areas do not contain any Man in Space sites; however, they possess a tremendous interpretive potential for telling the Man in Space story. Together with the Man in Space sites and installations, these areas can greatly increase public understanding and appreciation of the early American space program. It should be noted that this is not a list of all space museums and facilities in the United States.

CHICAGO MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY, HENRY CROWN SPACE CENTER, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

This center was completed in July 1986 as a new addition to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. The museum focuses on historic, present, and future space programs. Objects on display include the Apollo 13 command module, a lunar lander, space suits, a moon rock, and numerous other artifacts. There are a large number of science exhibits and a 3-D space shuttle simulation. The center also features an OMNIMAX theater. Over 1 million people have visited the center since its opening in July.

KANSAS COSMOSPHERE AND SPACE CENTER, HUTCHINSON, KANSAS

This museum includes the space center, which contains interactive displays, and the Cosmosphere, a theater featuring aerospace films. The museum has the largest collection of space suits in the nation, and it works with NASA and the Smithsonian in the preservation and restoration of space artifacts. The 1986 visitation exceeded 350,000.

MICHIGAN SPACE CENTER, JACKSON, MICHIGAN

Housed in a geodesic dome, this museum features artifacts donated by five astronauts who are Michigan natives. The center features a theater, educational programs, and displays of space hardware. The 1986 visitation reached 45,000.

MUSEUM OF FLIGHT, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

Located in a former Boeing warehouse, this museum contains exhibits on topics ranging from aviation to space and the future of NASA. New exhibit space is planned, with exhibits focusing on space technology. Attendance in 1986 reached 200,000.

NEIL ARMSTRONG AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM, WAPAKONETA, OHIO

This museum focuses on the life and achievements of the first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong. Historic artifacts include Armstrong's boyhood model airplanes and the Gemini 8 spacecraft. Operated by the Ohio Historical Society, the museum s 1986 visitation totaled 55,000.

OKLAHOMA AVIATION AND SPACE HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM, OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA

Aviation and space are this museum's themes, with exhibits featuring both airplanes and replicas of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo capsules. Astronaut Thomas Stafford has donated many space hardware artifacts. The museum contains exhibit space, a research library, convention rooms, and a theater and is part of the Kirkpatrick Center. Visitation at the complex in 1986 reached 450,000.

ROSWELL MUSEUM, ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO

Robert H. Goddard's rocketry laboratory has been reconstructed at this museum, complete with original equipment. Other Goddard exhibits contain artifacts such as a complete rocket. The Roswell Museum is a municipal museum with a planetarium and art galleries. The 1986 attendance reached 45,800.

SAN DIEGO AEROSPACE MUSEUM, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

This museum originally opened in 1963, but was closed because of a fire in 1978 and relocated and reopened in 1980. It was the first aerospace theme museum to be accredited by the American Association of Museums. More than 70 aircraft and space objects are displayed. A space age exhibit honors man's exploration and achievements in space and includes full-scale replicas of the Apollo, Gemini, and Mercury command modules, space suits, and other astronaut memorabilia. The story of flight from Kitty Hawk through man's exploration of space is told. Approximately 250,000 people visited the museum in 1986.

SPACE CENTER, ALAMOGORDO, NEW MEXICO

The Space Center contains a museum, planetarium, OMNIMAX theater, and the International Space Hall of Fame. It features exhibits of space hardware and offers many educational and special programs. The fiscal year 1986 visitor attendance reached 196,000.

TITAN MISSILE MUSEUM, GREEN VALLEY, ARIZONA

This museum is the only site where visitors can tour a deactivated intercontinental nuclear missile and silo. The site honors Air Force crews who never fired a missile during war. Visitation since the museum s opening in May 1986 totals 19,000.

U.S. AIR FORCE MUSEUM, WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB, OHIO

This museum focuses on the role of the U.S. Air Force in moving from air into space, although most exhibits feature aircraft. Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo capsules are shown. The museum features tours, a theater, and guest lecture series and specializes in aircraft restoration. Over 1,100,000 people visited in 1986.

U.S. NAVAL AVIATION MUSEUM, PENSACOLA, FLORIDA

This museum traces the Navy's contribution to aeronautics and astronautics. It features a number of historic aircraft and spacecraft. The space age is represented by the Skylab 2 command module, which was launched in 1973 with an all-Navy crew of astronauts. In addition, there are more than 50 internal combustion and jet engines arranged to illustrate the chronological development of aircraft propulsion. It is estimated that over 200,000 visitors toured the museum in 1986.

WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY, WALLOPS ISLAND, VIRGINIA

Wallops is a part of the Goddard Space Flight Center. The Wallops visitor center features exhibits focusing on milestones of flight, Wallops' contributions to these milestones, and future space programs. Also featured are a rocket park, an auditorium, guest lectures, a gift shop, and special programs. Attendance in 1986 exceeded 73,000.

WESTERN SPACEPORT MUSEUM AND SCIENCE CENTER, LOMPOC, CALIFORNIA (proposed)

When completed, this development will include the spaceport museum, featuring interactive exhibits, multimedia presentations, working demonstrations of science and technology, and self-paced computer-driven learning environments, and the science center, providing high-quality information and an environment for the study of space-related issues and technologies. Administrators expect to attract up to 500,000 visitors during their first year of operation.

Last Modified: Wed, Nov 29 2000 10:00:00 am PDT
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