posted 10-29-2008 05:27 PM               

The Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum will close for a week next year as part of a plan to erase a $1.2 million budget deficit facing the Ohio Historical Society.

The Ohio Historical Society has announced it will close 14 of its sites that are managed directly by the society for one week next spring as part of a cost-saving plan. Sites that are owned by the Ohio Historical Society but managed by others are not directly affected by the closure. The society has a network of 58 historic sites and museums.

posted 05-02-2009 12:27 AM               

Concerned that the museum named after native son Neil Armstrong might close in the face of state budget cuts, Wapakoneta-area officials have joined forces in hopes of taking over day-to-day operations of the facility.

The Ohio Historical Society is trying to get local groups to assume daily operations of the Armstrong Air & Space Museum and 16 other historic sites to save money. Gov. Ted Strickland has proposed $5.4 million for the society's sites and museums operations budget next year, down from this year's $7.2 million.

The historical society has promised to keep the Armstrong museum open at least through July 20, the 40th anniversary of Armstrong's historic moonwalk. But if it can't find a group to operate it after that, the museum may have to close, at least temporarily.

posted 05-12-2009 03:40 PM               

Members of a recently-formed committee working to save the Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum say they have a potential partner to help operate the facility.

The Ohio Historical Society said earlier this year because of budget cuts the agency would close the facility unless a partnership could be found to take over operations.

John Zwez, the museum's former manager, and Rebecca Macwhinney, the museum's current manager, said negotiations are in the very early stages with an entity that may take over operations. Neither would comment on the identity of the prospective partner.

posted 02-03-2012 10:04 AM               

The site also seems to point to a slight name change for the museum. Previous references called the facility the "Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum." It appears "Neil" has been dropped from the name.

A disclaimer on the museum's website reads:

The museum is owned by the State of Ohio, is part of the Ohio Historical Society’s statewide system of historic sites and museums, and is operated by the local Armstrong Air and Space Museum Association. Neil Armstrong has never been involved in the management of the museum nor benefited from it in any way.

posted 03-05-2013 08:59 AM            

She told me that it was in 1984 or 1986. She then went on to explain to me that Neil was never in favor of the museum and was upset about it being built. She also said that Neil's parents played a big part in the creation of the museum, and for their part in that Neil was not happy with them.

posted 03-05-2013 10:08 AM               

"If the organizing committee had asked me I'm sure I would have said okay, because it was in the town where my parents lived. Nevertheless, I would have been happier had they not used my name or, if they used my name, they would have used a different approach for the museum.

"I did try to support them in any way I could by presenting them such materials as I had available, either gifting or loaning items."

"From the outset I was uncomfortable because that museum was built as the 'Neil Armstrong Museum.' A number of people came to believe that it was my personal property and a business undertaking of mine. The Ohio Historical Society in Columbus was actually going to be overseeing the museum, and I told its director that I felt uncomfortable. I asked him as well as another member of the planning board if there was anything that could be done about the public image issue and to respond to me about what they thought. They said they would, but they did not."