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Author
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Topic: Space Walk of Fame Museum, Titusville, Fla
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FFrench
Member Posts: 3002
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted June 11, 2007 04:39 PM
  
I'd like to give a plug to the Space Walk of Fame Museum in Titusville, Florida.I'd never got to it before on prior trips to the Cape - so suspect some others haven't too - and I'm kicking myself for not visiting such an incredible hidden gem before now. The museum is so different from anything else down at the Cape - it has a hands-on, homegrown, personal feel that many more official exhibitions lack. Concentrating more on those who worked out of the spotlight to make the program happen, it has rooms upon rooms of amazing artifacts. The people there are so friendly - I was offered two tours while I was there! - I can't recommend it highly enough. You really feel far closer to the program in this kind of intimate setting. |
Steven Kaplan
Member Posts: 106
From:
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted June 12, 2007 06:23 AM
I'll second the above. A wonderful little gem of a museum, much more so than the Disney type version you get at the KSC Visitors Center. The volunteers are great, and the nuts and bolts artifacts are very interesting. Stop by and make a donation if you are visiting KSC. Well worth the trip. |
albatron
Member Posts: 1933
From: Stuart, Florida, USA
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted June 12, 2007 07:35 AM
Francis, did you get to meet Sam Beddingfield while at the SWOF? A fixture there, Sam is a HUGE part of space history at KSC. He alone, is well worth the trip. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3002
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted June 12, 2007 08:59 AM
I didn't, sadly, but did get a great tour from Charlie Mars, who was great to meet. |
albatron
Member Posts: 1933
From: Stuart, Florida, USA
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted June 12, 2007 01:52 PM
That's a shame. I do not believe there is a better "explainer" of space history with the anecdotes Sam has. Gus Grissom actually talked him into to coming to NASA.But Charlie' s pretty good too.  |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3002
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted June 12, 2007 02:36 PM
Charlie was excellent, and if you see him please tell him so and thank him from me again!! |
albatron
Member Posts: 1933
From: Stuart, Florida, USA
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted June 12, 2007 03:00 PM
He really is. I'll certainly pass it along. |
astro-nut
Member Posts: 400
From: washington, Illinois USA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted June 14, 2007 10:02 PM
In July/August 2005 I was at the KSC for the flight of STS-114. I made it a point to go to the Space Walk of Fame Museum daily. I did get to meet Sam Beddingfield and he and I talked about NASA all day long and he had some good stories to tell about Gus Grissom. Who needs Disney World when we have the Space Walk of Fame Museum. An excellent museum and great people to go along with it. Thank you and keep supporting NASA, the Space Walk of Fame Museum and collectSPACE. |
Moonpaws
Member Posts: 685
From: Lee's summit, MO
Registered: Jan 2005
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posted June 15, 2007 09:25 AM
I too was impressed with the Museum. I chatted with a spry young woman there for awhile. Her name eludes me, but very pleasant to speak with. She has lived in the area since the early 60's. In regard to Disney World, what a disaster. Hot, overcrowded, usually took an hour to wait for rides. It was absolutely the low point of my trip to Florida. |
tncmaxq
Member Posts: 244
From: New Haven, CT USA
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted June 15, 2007 01:34 PM
I had hoped to go to the museum but did not make it. I'm sorry now I did not. This makes it more likely I will try to make another trip down there for STS-118.  |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2229
From: Renton, WA USA
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted February 08, 2010 08:49 PM
I'm in Florida for the launch this week. FANTASTIC!Anyway, it's my fourth trip here and I finally got to the little "Space Walk of Fame Museum" in Merritt Island. If you are a collector, you must go see this museum. The place is packed with all kinds of artifacts, equipment, models and other things. It's a free museum, but I did put a donation in the box after visiting. It was kind of like my collection in my living room, but much cooler, and a lot more of it! |
AFGAS
Member Posts: 89
From: Merritt Island, FL
Registered: Feb 2008
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posted February 09, 2010 06:22 AM
quote:
Originally posted by tegwilym:
...finally got to the little "Space Walk of Fame Museum" in Merritt Island.
Just to clarify, the Space Walk of Fame Museum is on Main Street (US 1) in Titusville. But after seeing a night launch like that, I can understand you not know exactly where you are! The best thing about the museum, is that it is a collection of what the people who work at the space center think are important. A real insiders' guide to KSC. |
kking
Member Posts: 98
From: Topmost, Ky. USA
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted February 11, 2010 10:51 AM
Do anybody have any good pictures? I've just seen what few is on their website. |
Gilbert
Member Posts: 784
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted February 26, 2010 12:31 PM
Joel Katzowitz, Jimmy Brown and I visited the museum while we were in town for the STS-129 launch. Sam B. took us through the museum and he talked extensively about many of the artifacts. You could tell he was still excited about the US manned space program and proud of its accomplishments. Every reader of this forum should visit the museum if the chance arises. |
4allmankind
Member Posts: 651
From: NJ
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted February 26, 2010 02:19 PM
Gil, great to read that you visited the museum. Did you walk out to the water to see the monuments? That is always a cool thing to do that I try to see when I am in the area. |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2229
From: Renton, WA USA
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted February 26, 2010 02:53 PM
Photos from the Space Walk of Fame Museum. 
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James Brown
Member Posts: 1171
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted February 26, 2010 03:08 PM
 
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tegwilym
Member Posts: 2229
From: Renton, WA USA
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted February 27, 2010 06:09 PM
I REALLY liked this museum. It's a very low budget thing with "junk" stacked all over the place and in donated glass cases (one of them said "Nintendo" along the bottom). Not all polished and fancy like the NASA stuff, but it was wonderful! I really like these kind of museums.
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ringo67
Member Posts: 83
From: Seekonk, Mass., USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted March 03, 2010 11:15 PM
OK, you guys sold me.I am going to make sure I check out this little gem during my trip down for the STS-131 launch, even if I have to miss my flight home to do it. It reminds me of a wonderful little World War II museum tucked away in Natick, Mass. |
ringo67
Member Posts: 83
From: Seekonk, Mass., USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted April 06, 2010 09:46 PM
Went to the Space Walk of Fame Museum and had a wonderful tine. I highly recommend it. I was in town to cover the STS-131 launch and I stopped by before going to the KSC Visitors Complex.A guy whose name escapes me (thought it was Charlie Mars at first, but it wasn't) gave me a great tour of the exhibits. Some of his facts were a little muddy, but I knew what he was talking about and I enjoyed talking with him. Near the end of the tour I see some Japanese journalists who are doing a story on Titusville and the space program. They are setting up in the Shuttle area and who walks in, but Sam Beddingfield. I listened from another room as they interviewed him. Then they asked me to let Sam show me around while they shot some B-roll (isn't that what it's called?). I talked with Sam and the other guy for another 15 or 20 minutes before Sam had to leave for Valiant Air Command Museum. So, if anyone notices a fat guy with a "College" shirt being show the crawler controls by Sam Beddingfield, could you let me know? 'Cuz that fat guy is me. And that was before I left at 11:30 a.m. for the KSCVC. Wow! |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2229
From: Renton, WA USA
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted April 07, 2010 04:10 PM
Isn't that little place the best museum in that area? I loved it! |
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