Apollo 11

Neil Armstrong is remembered for being the first man on the Moon. Unfortunately, there were few photographs taken of him on the Moon. That's because Neil was busy with the only camera, taking many of the greatest photos on the Moon!

Fourteen pieces of Columbia

These ablator plugs were removed from the Apollo 11 command Module from the forward heat shield upon her return from the Moon. This lucite was made by Howard E Spencer, a member of the North American Rockwell recovery team. A very interesting piece to ponder... not just a single piece of Apollo 11 but fourteen unique items in one presentation.

The Apollo 11 crew... Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins.

Practice nametag

The NASA employee that made the official Apollo suit nametags practiced three times before making the final ones. This is one of those practice nametags.

Authentic Apollo 11 US flag spacesuit patch

This patch was removed from a spacesuit used by astronauts practicing for the Apollo 11 mission at the Langley Research Center. Notice the intricate stitching used to sew the beta cloth to the thick rubber underlining material. Both Buzz Aldrin, the Apollo 11 Lunar Module Pilot and Michael Collins, the Command Module Pilot have signed this piece. For more information on the Langley Research Center check out... http://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/news/factsheets/Apollo.html

Neil and Buzz

This dollar bill was obtained from the estate of the Vice President of First City National Bank in Houston, Texas. He had Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin sign it shortly after their historic first Moon landing.

July 16, 1969

On the morning of July 16, 1969 Neil Armstrong wrote this check.
The Apollo 11 crew was awoken shortly after 4:00am and would find themselves on their way to the Moon only a few short hours later. The morning's activities were filled with showering, eating breakfast, undergoing medical examinations, putting on their spacesuits, saying their goodbyes, and making the trip out to the launch pad and up the elevator to the top of the thirty story tall craft that would take them to the Moon where they would make mankind's first landing on another world.
Neil Armstrong had previously borrowed $10.50 from Harold Collins, the former NASA Chief of Mission Support, and then repaid the loan on launch day as a ritual of good luck. Upon presenting the check to Collins, Armstrong told him "Here's a check for the loan... but don't cash it because I WILL be coming back!"


Neil Armstrong .... July 16, 1969 If you'd like to learn more check out this site which showcases the "good luck" check that Neil Armstrong signed the morning of his Apollo 11 launch to the Moon.

A letter from Neil's mother

Mrs. Armstrong writes about the homecoming parade being give in Wapokeneta, Ohio for her son. The letter is written on September 1, 1969 just a few weeks after Neil Armstrong's historic first walk on the Moon.

One small step for a man

A short sweet note from Neil Armstrong's mother.

Neil's toy

Neil Armstrong has earned quite a few titles including "First man to walk on the Moon"... but his favorite of all is simply "Engineer". I can't think of a better way to develop an interest in a child for engineering than letting them play with an erector set.

Neil's X-15

Here are four fragments from North American's X-15 #3. Neil Armstrong was this planes first pilot. This X-15 would reach space 11 times during it's flight history. The plane was lost in 1967 during it's 65th flight leaving debris scattered over an 11 square mile area. The small irregular black piece is made of Iconel-X which is a special heat resistant metal used in the construction of the crafts outer skin.

Neil Steps on the Moon

This is the "Hometown Edition" of the Wapakonetta Moon Landing newspaper that Neil Armstrong's mother and father gave to, historian and family friend, Rick Boos after the their sons famous flight.

Neil on the Moon

by Ed Hengeveld

To Mom, From Neil

After returning from the Moon, Neil Armstrong presented his mother with a moon globe and this booklet that described where he had been.

Neil Armstrong's Telegram

This is a telegram sent to Neil Armstrong from the governor of Ohio (Neil's home state) congratulating him on his flight... here is the text...

Apollo 11 tie clasp

"I worked for Parker Hannifin in So. Cal and the company
mfg'd cryogenic valves for the lander ship. One of the
valves (6 per ship) were integrated into the yaw system.
Parker had 4 other cryogenic valves engineered into the
booster also. A group of us were in a standing room only
conference room while we listened to an 8 minute "thanks
for all your support" speech by Neil Armstrong and
afterwards we were given these clasps by him."

The value of "the story behind the item"

Sometimes the story behind an item is worth more than the item itself. This small pewter plaque is only worth a few dollars... but to have been given the plaque by the first man to walk on the Moon... priceless.

Capitol Flag

This flag was briefly flown over the US Capitol Building in Washington DC on July 20, 1969... the day Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the Moon.

Buzz and Noah

That's right, me and Buzz Aldrin, moonwalker from Apollo 11.
Life is good. :)

Buzz, Buzz, Buzz

This is a sheet of paper that Buzz Aldrin had used to "warm up" before signing autographs. This sheet is from the year 1969 when Buzz was still legally, "Edwin E. Aldrin Jr." (Edwin Aldrin signatures are relatively rare and Buzz refuses to sign today using the name Edwin)

Salt shaker rocket

I had the great privilege of having had breakfast with Buzz Aldrin. Buzz is a brilliant man who shared many ideas about potential future lunar transportation options, outer space energy production, and the proper steps we should be taking towards lunar colonization. I most enjoyed his description of what the rocket should be like that will take us back to the Moon. He used a salt shaker as a visual prop and that salt shaker flew all around our breakfast table that morning. This salt shaker is remarkably similar to that one. ;)

Buzz and his father

From Buzz's personal collection, this pocket watch belonged to his father. Neil Armstrong was most influenced and shaped by his mother, but in Buzz's life, the dominate parental influence was his father.

Study hard... and maybe one day you'll go to the Moon.

Buzz Aldrin's report cards... a great insight into his background.

Buzz's boot

Perhaps one of the most dramatic images of the 20th century, signed by the Man who took it.

Lunar rocks...

Tektites... from Buzz Aldrin's personal collection... used during Apollo 11 training.

Apollo 11 Moon rocks

Some of the precious cargo brought back to Earth by the crew of Apollo 11. These are breccia.

Moon rock container

Containers such as this one were made to store and transport moonrocks upon return to Earth. They were made of stainless steel which would not contaminate the precious specimens that they contained... and they were made strong, heavy, and secured, to keep the specimens from contaminating the Earth with possible alien pathogens.

Practice moon rock samples

A rock and some soil used by Neil and Buzz during their training.


An Apollo 11 practice sample bag.

Apollo 11 artist proof

All crew emblems go through a process of concept, artist renderings, and then multiple revisions. This is an early Apollo 11 concept original painting by NASA artist, Al Stevens. Notice that the Eagle is coming in for a landing from the left as it originally appeared in a National Geographic magazine article on eagles that Michael Collins found for inspiration. There is an American flag seen here which would later be removed, and notice that the olive branch that would be later added to create more of a "for all mankind" statement is missing.
Notice also that the names of the Apollo 11 astronauts would eventually be removed because, as Michael Collins wrote, "this was an event bigger than three individuals."

Apollo 11 artist proof #2

Notice the changes that were made after the first artist's proof (shown above) The patch is now circular in shape. The red patch has been replaced with a blue one and the eagle is now carrying an "XI" in it's claws (later to be replaced with an olive branch.) Notice also that the American flag is now gone.

Al Stevens original Pen and Ink

This is an original drawing made by artist Al Stevens during the process of creating the Apollo 11 mission emblem.

A unique eagle emblem...

This large medallion was purchased from a street vendor in Vietnam. It is well used, and unique, with rays emitting from the Eagle. I imagine there are a few stories behind this piece.

And another...

TV in 1969

This small lapel pin is from the estate of Joe Thomas who was a photographer for the Republican Courier (the newspaper in Findley, Ohio). Joe took a photograph of his television set while Neil Armstrong was on the Moon and that photograph was used in the next days newspaper. This pin was created to commemorate that edition. Obviously Joe was very proud of his contribution... enough to hold onto this pin for many years and then to go to the trouble of creating this note of authenticity. I find it very interesting how this piece illustrates that era so well... that newsworthy images were obtained in such a fashion as taking a photo of one's TV set.

Moon plaque

This limited edition replica Apollo 11 Moon Plaque is made from high-grade 1/16" 'rolled' stainless steel, the same material used to fabricate the original Moon plaque. The original Apollo 11 Moon Plaque is still on the Moon, attached to the ladder of the descent stage of the lunar module "Eagle". This replica is the same size as the original 9" x 7 5/8", and has been "rolled" to conform to the curvature of the landing gear strut where it was attached. The Eagles plaque is located between the third and fourth rungs of the ladder, and is attached by four stainless steel straps.

First Flights Presentation

A "First Flights" presentation with actual pieces from each of the major first flights... from the Wright Brothers to Apollo 11. Learn more about this piece at... FirstFlights.

I'm frequently asked, "which is the most significant piece in the collection? That's always a tough question to answer, and the answer does change from time to time, but this presentation is one the best pieces... it's rare... it clearly shows the rapid significant growth in mans ability to fly... and, the fact that the fabric from the Wright Flyer likely flew on Apollo 11 is awe inspiring.