Space: The Final Frontier in the National Register of Historic Places

This post is part of an ongoing “road trip” featuring records from the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and National Historic Landmarks Program Records, 2013 – 2017 (National Archives ID 20812721), a series within Record Group 79: Records of the National Park Service. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Dedication of the National Air and Space Museum … Continue reading Space: The Final Frontier in the National Register of Historic Places

Dear Dr. von Braun: Eccentrics, Crack Pots, & the Moon, Part II

Today’s post is by Shane Bell, Archivist at the National Archives at Atlanta. This is the second of two posts regarding correspondence found in Dr. Wernher von Braun’s Personal Files, 1968 – 1970 (National Archives ID 2827681), Public Affairs Office, George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Record Group 255: Records of the National Aeronautics and Space … Continue reading Dear Dr. von Braun: Eccentrics, Crack Pots, & the Moon, Part II

Dear Dr. von Braun: Eccentrics, Crack Pots, & the Moon, Part I

Today’s post is by Shane Bell, Archivist at the National Archives at Atlanta. Leading up to the launch of Apollo 11 on July 16, 1969, NASA personnel, engineers, and contractors were not the only people who recognized the gravity of the occasion and the significance of project Apollo. Many United States citizens also felt they … Continue reading Dear Dr. von Braun: Eccentrics, Crack Pots, & the Moon, Part I

Apollo 11: Telling the Story Around the World: Post-mortem

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. As noted in an earlier post, the United States Information Agency (USIA) undertook a major effort relating to the Apollo 11 mission.  USIA established the "Apollo 11 Task Force" and the "Apollo 11 Operations … Continue reading Apollo 11: Telling the Story Around the World: Post-mortem

Apollo 11: Dealing with the Foreign Press

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. An earlier post described plans by the United States Information Agency (USIA) to handle matters relating to the flight of Apollo 11.  USIA took over responsibility from NASA for dealing with the foreign press … Continue reading Apollo 11: Dealing with the Foreign Press

Apollo 11: The Foreign Reaction

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr. completed the first manned landing on the Moon at 1:54 PM EDT on July 21, 1969, when they lifted off the Moon to rejoin … Continue reading Apollo 11: The Foreign Reaction

Apollo 11: Mementos on the Moon

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. At a Department of State senior staff meeting on May 27, 1969, part of the discussion concerned the international implications of objects that might be left on the Moon as part of the Apollo … Continue reading Apollo 11: Mementos on the Moon

APOLLO 11: Preparing for the Unthinkable

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park.  An earlier post described the involvement of the Department of State with manned spacecraft launches.  Among other things, it discussed the possibility of a mission-related disaster that forced an aborted landing on the land … Continue reading APOLLO 11: Preparing for the Unthinkable

Apollo 11: Telling the Story Around the World

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. The United States Information Agency (USIA) was responsible for telling the U.S. story abroad.  In early 1969, the upcoming flight of Apollo 11 looked to be the culmination of President John F. Kennedy's May … Continue reading Apollo 11: Telling the Story Around the World

One Small Step

Today's post is written by Alfie Paul, a processing archivist at Archives II. On July 20, 1969 the world watched as the first human beings landed on the moon.  That day 42 years ago was the culmination of a race to the moon that President John F. Kennedy began in 1961 saying he believed “that … Continue reading One Small Step