Armstrong
Air and Space Museum Director visits NB-NK Rotary Club
Chris Burton, the new Executive Director of the Armstrong Air and
Space
Museum
visited the NB-NK Rotary Club to share the latest news and events at the
Museum. One of the things we’re
going to be focus on is getting people back out to the museum.”
said
Burton
. “My goal is to get back to
50,000 visitors.” In 2009
visitors were down to 25,000 from 50,000 in prior years.
“The museum tells the story of Neil Armstrong and all the Ohioans who
have attempted to defy gravity,” said
Burton
. Jim Lovell, Judith Resnick and
Neil Armstrong are among the Ohioans featured in the Museum.
The museum includes a new simulator, the Gemini Docking Simulator, a
replica of the one Neil Armstrong used on the lunar mission.
Mr. Burton handed out the new brochures and rack cards promoting the
museum. Two Minster firms produced
the brochures: Mid Met Media designed the pieces and Globus printed them.
These pieces are distributed to various historic sites in
Ohio
and various Convention and Visitor’s bureau locations around the state to
get people from outside the region to come visit the area.
The rack card gives a brief overview of the museum, while the brochure
promotes the museum and highlights other attractions in the area.
New projects at the museum include plans for a new a new sign to be
constructed along the east side of the museum facing the interstate.
There are plans to update the museum with information about more recent
developments in the space program to bring the exhibit more current.
Mr. Burton also would like to put together a traveling exhibit
highlighting
Ohio
’s role in the manned space program. There
are many
Ohio
companies that manufactured equipment and supplies that were used in the
manned space program.
The Ohio Historic Society still owns the building and the collection but
the management of the museum has been assigned to the Armstrong Air and Space
Museum Association. “If you’re
a member of the Ohio Historic Association, you’re visit to the museum is
free. We’re still a part of the
overall Ohio Historical Society network,” said
Burton
. “But, we’re operated by a
county-wide organization.”
Burton
announced that the Summer Moon Festival takes place July 15th-18th
this year in Wapakoneta. The
Museum will have a presence downtown during the festival with Astronaut Ice
Cream and various science experiments, activities and displays.
Hosting Rotarian:
Michelle
Suchland
