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5 Things You Need To See At The Armstrong Air & Space Museum

January 16, 2020 / 66 Comments
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If you have someone in your family who LOVES space, you need to visit the Armstrong Air & Space Museum. It is located in Wapakoneta, Ohio, the birthplace of Neil A. Armstrong.

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On a recent trip to Columbus, Ohio, we decided to head over to Wapakoneta (about a 90 minute drive) to visit the Museum. Because Charlene and I both have children who are passionate about anything space related, we knew it was a “must see” during our visit.

Armstrong Air & Space Museum

In July, 1969, the mayor of Wapakoneta proposed a museum that would not only commemorate Neil Armstrong’s unforgettable first steps on the moon, but it would also be dedicated to Ohio’s contribution to aviation and space exploration. The town and community came together to raise enough money for the Museum. The Armstrong Air & Space Museum opened on July 20, 1972, three years to the day after Armstrong’s walk on the moon.

The architect wanted the design to resemble a futuristic moon base (Notice the large dome? More on that in #4 of our list.). There are seven interactive exhibits, ten audio/visual elements, and two simulators. Take a turn at landing the lunar module and space shuttle, or docking the Gemini capsule, just like Neil Armstrong did in 1966.

3… 2… 1… BLASTOFF!

Buckle your seat belts and prepare for takeoff! Here is our list of the top five things you don’t want to miss!

#1 – A Journey Through Neil Armstrong’s Life

The beginning of the Museum takes you on a journey through Neil Armstrong’s younger years, right on into the start of the Space Race. Neil Armstrong was born on August 5th, 1930. Armstrong developed an interest of flying at a young age and it only intensified as he got older. He loved to build model airplanes, experimented with his own homemade wind tunnel, and read every book and magazine about planes that he could get his hands on.

Neil Armstrong graduated from high school in 1947 with a scholarship from the U.S. Navy, and went on to attend Purdue University to study aeronautical engineering. In 1949, the Navy called him to active duty where he became a Navy pilot.

After graduating college, his career included such jobs as engineer, test pilot, astronaut, and experimenter. Armstrong had flown over 200 different aircraft models, which brings us to the next thing…

#2 – Actual Aircrafts Flown by Neil Armstrong

The Armstrong Museum is home to two full-sized aircrafts flown by Neil Armstrong. As you enter the parking lot, you are greeted by the F5D Skylancer, which has been beautifully restored to the way it was in the 1960’s. The other aircraft, the Aeronca Champion, is on display in the Early Space Gallery.

#3 – The Gemini VIII and Spacesuit

On March 16, 1966, Armstrong took part in his first space mission as command pilot of the Gemini 8. The goal of the mission was to complete the first space docking. The docking went as planned but as the two spacecrafts started orbiting together, they began to loose control.

Because to the out of control spinning, Armstrong had to un-dock the Gemini to regain control. As a result, they had to make an emergency landing in the Pacific Ocean.

Not only will you find the space suit Armstrong wore on the mission, but they also have the REAL Gemini 8 spacecraft! You can get up close and see what it was like inside. It’s pretty tight quarters for two people.

#4 – The Astro Theater

Photo used with Permission (Armstrong Air & Space Museum)

The 56-foot dome in the center of the museum is where you will find the Astro Theater. It is the perfect venue that allows visitors to enjoy the short documentary about Apollo 11’s lunar landing and the celebration that followed after the astronauts made it home.

#5 – The Artifacts from Apollo 11

On July 20th, 1969, at 10:56:20 PM EST, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. You would be hard pressed to find someone who didn’t know the words to his famous statement:

“That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin spent about two and half hours on the moon taking photos, doing experiments, and collecting samples. Some of the Museum’s incredible one-of-a-kind artifacts from the Apollo 11 mission include Armstrong’s space suit, an American flag that was onboard, and a moon rock. It’s crazy to be standing next to something that used to be on the moon for billions of years.

*Bonus*

There are several locations throughout Wapakoneta that had significance in Neil Armstrong’s life. You can drive by his childhood home, the schools he attended, his church, and where he learned to fly. Make sure you stop by the gift shop to obtain a map of where these places are located (please note, his childhood home is a private residence now).

And for all of you Ryan Gosling fans…

After you purchase your commemorative ornament to remember your visit (that’s what we do), make sure you look at the wall behind the counter. There, upon that lucky wall graces a photograph of Ryan Gosling during a visit to the Museum before he started filming the movie “First Man,” where he starred as Neil Armstrong. Too bad he wasn’t there during OUR visit! That would have made for a memorable experience! Am I right, ladies?!?!

Our Experience

Everyone had such an incredible time visiting the Armstrong Air & Space Museum. Our children left with a new understanding of everything that went into successfully landing a man on the moon AND bringing him back to Earth safely. We highly recommend putting this on your list of places to visit. PERHAPS you will have an out of this world experience like we did.

Before your visit, make sure to check out the Teacher Resources section on their website. It is full of ways to get your children excited before they visit the museum including a space vocabulary list, a Neil Armstrong Biography, and even a scavenger hunt to do during your visit! It is broken down by grade and is an excellent way to get your child immersed in searching for the answers to the clues throughout the museum.

Be sure to check out our list of “Out of this World! Children’s Books about SPACE!”

Know Before You Go

  • Website: https://armstrongmuseum.org
  • Address: 500 Apollo Dr, Wapakoneta, OH 45895
  • Hours: From October to March: Tuesday – Saturday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday: Closed From April to September: Monday – Saturday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM They are closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas.
  • Admission: Adults ($10), Seniors 60+ ($9), Children 6-12 ($4), Children 5 and under (Free), Veterans ($8), and Active Military with ID (Free).
  • Parking: Free parking is available for cars, buses, campers, and RVs.
  • Time of visit: Our visit took place in October, on a Sunday. The museum wasn’t crowded and there was plenty of space to move around with the other visitors.

Check out our other adventure in Ohio:

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