Posted on 7/17/2019

Apollo 11 50th Anniversary of Walk on Moon Celebrated at Wright Brothers Monument

Neil Armstrong on the Moon, July 20. 1969. Photo, NASA.

Fifty years ago, on July 20, 1969, mankind first walked on the moon. Apollo 11, the space flight that delivered Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins to the moon, was a defining moment in history and a remarkable achievement.

Coming just eight year after President Kennedy promised Americans we would walk on the moon before the end of the decade, Apollo 11 was the culmination of an exceptional time of scientific advances and national commitment.

When Neil Armstrong stepped from the lunar nodule onto the surface of the moon on that fateful day, the nation and world were watching—including a few hundred visitors at the Wright Brothers Monument in Kill Devil Hills where Park Rangers had set up 50 televisions at the birthplace of the powered flight.

On Saturday evening the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing will be commemorated with recreation of that viewing party. The viewing will begin at 8:00 p.m. and include a rebroadcast of the Water Cronkite coverage of the event.

The Saturday evening party is just one of a number of events the National Park Service has scheduled to celebrate Apollo 11 and the 50 Anniversary of the mankind first steps beyond Earth

Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Celebration-Schedule of Events

Thursday, July 18

6:30pm: Apollo 11 Activities at Dowdy Park (Ranger Program)

Join Park Rangers for hands-on learning activities for kids prior to the 8pm movie showing in Nags Head
7pm: Apollo 11, Final Chapter in the Space Race (Special Program)
National Park Service volunteer, Chris Godart, will present a program called "Apollo 11, Final Chapter in the Space Race." Explore the events leading up to the historic mission of Apollo 11, and learn how the mission progressed to safely land man on the moon and return to earth.

8pm: "Apollo 11" Documentary at Dowdy Park(Special Event)

At around 8:00 p.m., the "Apollo 11" documentary will be shown at Dowdy Park in Nags Head. This free event is supported by the First Flight Foundation.

Friday, July 19

10am, 11am, 12pm, 4pm: Sand Dunes & Moon Dust (Ranger Program)

Learn about the events leading to the first powered flight in 1903 and its
similarities to the Apollo 11 mission.

1pm, 2:30pm: The Wright Stuff (Ranger Program)

Explore the Legacy of the Wright Brothers from Kitty Hawk to Tranquility Base

Saturday, July 20

10am, 11am, 4pm: Sand Dunes & Moon Dust (Ranger Program)

Learn about the events leading to the first powered flight in 1903 and its similarities to the Apollo 11 mission.

10am, 3pm, 4:30pm: Planet Walk (Ranger Program)

Join a park ranger to walk a scale model of the solar system on the grounds of the memorial. Learn about distant planets and how they relate to each other.

12pm: Apollo 11, Final Chapter in the Space Race (Ranger Program)

National Park Service volunteer, Chris Godart, will present a program called "Apollo 11, Final Chapter in the Space Race. Explore the events leading up to the historic mission of Apollo 11, and learn how the mission progressed to safely land man on the moon and return to earth.

2pm: Ask an Astronaut with NASA Astronaut

NASA Astronaut and Space Shuttle veteran Eric Boe will give a short presentation on his experiences in space and lead a question and answer session with the audience.

2:30pm: The Wright Stuff (Ranger Program)

Explore the Legacy of the Wright Brothers from Kitty Hawk to Tranquility Base

5pm: Meet and Greet with NASA Astronaut Eric Boe

Meet a real-life astronaut, and interact informally.

7pm Special Guest Speaker (Feature Event)

Active NASA astronaut Eric Boe will discuss spaceflight and the newest NASA initiatives to return to the moon and beyond.

8:10pm: Walter Cronkite Footage of the Moon Landing (Feature Event)

Rebroadcast of Walter Cronkite's famous moon landing news coverage will begin just after 8:00 p.m. and conclude around 8:45 p.m.

Sunday, July 21