SPECIAL EXHIBIT
Now Closed
Entry: Exhibit Ticket Required | Location: Union Terminal
Don’t miss the final stop of Apollo 11’s national tour
On July 24, 1969, the Apollo 11 mission met President Kennedy’s 1961 challenge of “landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the earth” before the end of the decade. Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission explores and honors that great achievement using genuine flown artifacts from the Apollo 11 mission on loan from the National Air and Space Museum. Featuring the Apollo command module Columbia — the only portion of the historic spacecraft to survive the lunar journey — the exhibition explores the birth and development of the American space program and the space race in time for the 50th anniversary of humankind’s greatest scientific achievement.
Destination Moon gives guest the rare opportunity to see artifacts that made the 953,000-mile journey possible, like Buzz Aldrin’s gold-plated extravehicular helmet visor and thermal-insulated gloves. The dizzying star chart that helped Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins navigate the historic journey and the rucksack and survival kit that accompanied the astronauts are also included. The star of the exhibition is the Columbia command module, on display outside the National Air and Space Museum for the first time since 1976.
“Artifacts so authentic you can almost smell the moon dust on them!"
Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission is organized by the National Air and Space Museum and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. The exhibition is made possible by the support of Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos, Joe Clark, Bruce R. McCaw Family Foundation, the Charles and Lisa Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, John and Susann Norton, and Gregory D. and Jennifer Walston Johnson.
The exhibition in Cincinnati is supported by the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation, Western & Southern Financial Group, the Farmer Family Foundation and the Harold C. Schott Foundation, Tom and Francie Hiltz, Trustees.
“So crazy to stand inches away from the command module!"
Key artifacts
Command Module Columbia
Manufacturer: North American Rockwell
Primary Materials: aluminum alloy, stainless steel, titanium
The only part of the Apollo 11 spacecraft to return intact to Earth. It was the three-person crew’s living quarters for most of the mission, from Cape Kennedy, to the Moon’s orbit, to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
Aldrin’s Extravehicular Visor
Visor materials: gold-plated polycarbonate, UV-coated polycarbonate
The A7-L Lunar Extravehicular Visor Assembly consists of a polycarbonate shell onto which the cover, visors, hinges, eyeshades and latch are attached. It has two visors, one covered with a thermal control coating and the other with a gold optical coating. It also has two steel side sunshields, which could be raised and lowered independently. It provided impact, micrometeoroid, thermal, ultraviolet and infrared light protection.
Aldrin’s Extravehicular Gloves
Primary exterior materials: beta cloth, Chromel-R, Velcro, rubber-silicone compound
The gloves were constructed of an outer shell of Chromel-R fabric with thermal insulation to provide protection while handling extremely hot or cold objects. The blue fingertips were made of silicone rubber to provide sensitivity. The inner glove was of a rubber/neoprene compound, into which the restraint system was integrated.
Rucksack #1, Survival Kit
Each Apollo mission was equipped with two rucksacks providing equipment to allow for crew survival on Earth for up to 48 hours after landing. This is the first of the two rucksacks flown on Apollo 11. It includes three water containers, one radio beacon with spare battery, three pairs of sunglasses, six packages of desalted chemicals, one desalter kit, two survival lights, one machete and two bottles of sunscreen.
“If you’re a space nut, this exhibit is totally worth it!"
A New Moon Rises
The Moon is not the same place as when astronauts last stepped on foot on it. A New Moon Rises, a companion gallery to Destination Moon presented by the Smithsonian, features stunning large-scale photographs of the lunar surface captured by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Cameras (LROC) between 2009 and 2015. The highly detailed photographs reveal a celestial neighbor that is surprisingly dynamic and full of grandeur and wonder.
A New Moon Rises was created by the National Air and Space Museum and the Arizona State University, and is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.
A New Moon Rises is included with admission to Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission.
Tickets for Destination Moon
Adults: | $16.50 |
Seniors: | $15.50 |
Children: (ages 3-12) |
$10.50 |
Infants & Toddlers: (ages 0-2) |
Free |
Member Adult: | $10.50 |
Member Child: | $7.50 |
Members receive discounts!
Become a Member today to save on programs, exhibits and films throughout CMC.
Member Perk
Hey Members! Do you want to see Destination Moon while avoiding the busy times during its final days? Come see Destination Moon starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, 8 and 15. The exhibit will also stay open late with the last entry at 6 p.m. through February 17. Exhibition open through February 17, 2020.
Destination Moon Discounts
- AAA Members can receive $2 off Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission and $1 off Museum Admission when they present their membership card at the box office or by providing their AAA Membership number when purchasing tickets over the phone or use code: 3ADISCMOON when you purchase your tickets online.*
- Military persons, including active, retired, veterans, and family, receive $3 off Destination Moon when they present their military ID at box office.
* Must purchase Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission ticket and a Museum Admission ticket as a combo in order to redeem this discount.
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The exhibit looks great - and it's in Neil's home state! 👍 #ApolloXI https://t.co/Kd3FLLeOc1
— Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) October 4, 2019
Don’t miss the Columbia command module’s last stop on its Smithsonian traveling tour. #DestinationMoon is now on exhibit at the @CincyMuseum through February 17, 2020. https://t.co/fFY8L15KIk
— Michael Collins (@AstroMCollins) February 10, 2020
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