Apollo 11’s 50th anniversary calendar
By Debra Werner|July 15, 2019
Get a head start on participating in the activities being planned by cities, agencies and museums across the U.S. and in other countries.
Below is what we’ve learned so far. Stay on top of developments here. If you have an event to add to the online list, contact Debra Werner at werner.debra@gmail.com.
through July 2019
Alameda, California
Splashdown 50th Anniversary Celebration: Explore the history of the space race and the USS Hornet, the ship that recovered Apollo 11 astronauts after splashdown.
through July 2019
Flagstaff, Arizona
Lunar Legacy lectures on the scientific and cultural impacts of the moon landing, in the town where Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins trained for moon walks. Second Wednesday of each month.
Coconino Community College, Lone Tree Campus
Through July 2019
Portland, Oregon
Apollo 11: 50th Anniversary Celebration — Meet scientists, launch rockets, learn about constellations and watch space movies at a series of events at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.
Through Sept. 1, 2019
Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Be the Astronaut: An interactive virtual experience focused on the history of lunar exploration and future moon missions.
Through Sept. 2, 2019
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Be the Astronaut: An interactive virtual experience focused on the history of lunar exploration and future moon missions.
Through Sept. 8, 2019
Waco, Texas
Be the Astronaut: An interactive virtual experience focused on the history of lunar exploration and future moon missions.
Through December 2019
Framingham, MAssachusetts
Moon Landing in Context: Discussions, lectures and exhibit exploring the moon landing in the context of history and society.
Permanent Exhibit
Hampton, Virginia
Be the Astronaut: An interactive virtual experience focused on the history of lunar exploration and future moon missions.
Permanent Exhibit
Reno, Nevada
Be the Astronaut: An interactive virtual experience focused on the history of lunar exploration and future moon missions.
Feb. 14 – Aug. 23, 2019
Huntsville, Ala.
Apollo: When We Went to the Moon exhibit, U.S. Space and Rocket Center
Feb. 14 to Dec. 1, 2019
Huntsville, Alabama
Apollo 11 moon landing re-enactments 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, U.S. Space and Rocket Center
April 13 to Sept. 2, 2019
Seattle
Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia featured in Destination Moon touring exhibit, Seattle Museum of Flight
Ongoing
Houston
Visitors get to imagine they are witnessing the history-making events from the Mission Operations Control Room, Visitor Viewing Area, Simulation Control Room and Summary Display Projection Room, which have been restored to their 1969 appearance, complete with vintage furniture.
Space Center Houston at NASA’s Johnson Space Center
July 2019
Washington, D.C.
Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 spacesuit will go back on display, National Air and Space Museum.
July 3 – Sept. 22, 2019
New York
Apollo’s Muse: The Moon in the Age of Photography at The Met Fifth Avenue: visual representations of the moon including photographs, films, drawings, paintings and cameras flow in space. Metropolitan Museum
July 8-10, 2019
PBS television
“Chasing the Moon,” a four-hour PBS documentary tracing the origin of the space race through the first lunar landing.
July 10, 2019
pbs television
“Back to the Moon,” NOVA special on engineers preparing to send spacecraft to the moon as a stepping stone for missions to Mars, asteroids and other destinations in deep space.
July 11, 2019
riverside, California
Moon Landing 50th Anniversary Celebration
July 13, 2019
Simi Valley, California
Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Gala with Buzz Aldrin. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
July 13
West Chester, Pennsylvania
Children can dress as astronauts and explore an imaginary lunar surface at West Chester University’s Apollo 50th anniversary celebration.
July 13-20, 2019
Denver
ApolloPalooza, activities and events featuring astronauts and historians. VIP guests to include Apollo 17 astronaut and former Sen. Harrison Schmitt.
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
July 14, 2019–Jan. 5, 2020
Washington, D.C.
By the Light of the Silvery Moon: A Century of Lunar Photographs from the 1850s to Apollo 11. National Gallery of Art
July 16, 2019
Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Apollo Celebration Gala alongside a Saturn 5 rocket.
Kennedy Space Center
July 16, 2019
Huntsville, Ala.
Participants will attempt to break Guinness World Record by launching 5,000 model rockets at 9:32 a.m. Eastern time to commemorate the launch of the Saturn 5 on this date and time 50 years ago.
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
July 16-20, 2019
Washington, D.C.
Celebration of the Apollo 11 mission centered on the National Mall, including three days of outdoor exhibits, live performances and speakers.
July 17, 2019
pbs television
“8 Days: To the Moon and Back,” documentary with audio and video from the first NASA lunar landing.
July 19, 2019
Huntsville, Ala.
A parade from the U.S. Space and Rocket Center museum to Courthouse Square, featuring the Lunar Rover replica from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. A street party with dancing after the parade.
Parade route in downtown Huntsville and including Courthouse Square. Exact route TBD.
July 19, 2019
Online
NASA TV to show anniversary celebrations at NASA facilities across the country.
July 19-21, 2019
Wapakoneta, Ohio
Birthplace of Apollo astronaut Neil Armstrong (60 miles north of Dayton) plans exhibits, science demonstrations, races and live entertainment.
Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum
Free
July 20, 2019
St. Paul, Minnesota
Apollo Anniversary & Cosmic 5K: Race, fun run, games, crafts, lunar samples and learning activities from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
July 20, 2019
Rancho Mirage, California
Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Celebration: tours, stories, crafts and other children’s activities at the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory.
July 20, 2019
Greenbelt, Maryland
Model rocket contest with trophies and prizes at the NASA Goddard Visitor Center. On-site registration required. Free
July 20, 2019
Garden City, New York
Apollo at 50 Moon Fest: Family event with moon buggy races, virtual reality and Space Shuttle astronauts. Apollo at 50 Countdown Celebration: champagne, dinner, music and dancing.
July 20, 2019
Huntsville, Ala.
Rocketfest Moon Landing Concert
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
July 20 (tentative), 2019
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
Newton in Space, a family day offering participants a chance to build and launch model rockets.
National Museum of the Air Force
Free
July 20
Tucson, Ariz.
Summer Science Saturday features Apollo 11 lectures, displays and family activities.
University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
July 20, 2019
NASA Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida
Zero Gravity Corp. and Space Florida will offer parabolic flights simulating lunar gravity.
July 20, 2019
Hutchinson, Kansas
Landing on the Lawn: a celebration of the lunar landing with family-friendly activities and demonstrations by Cosmosphere International SciEd Center & Space Museum at Hutchinson Community College.
July 24, 2019
Houston
Johnson Space Center Gala
Johnson Space Center
Apollo-inspired activities
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum invites all interested to share their Apollo 11 moon landing stories.
