Posts: 48089 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-17-2019 09:28 PM
The Space Museum in Bonne Terre, Missouri, founded by space memorabilia collector Earl Mullins, has expanded into the adjacent Grissom Center, a 5,000-foot display space.
The new annex, named for the late Mercury astronaut, will exhibit the museum's NASA and space artifacts. The original facility is re-focused on space collectibles and pop culture ephemera.
A ribbon cutting was held on Saturday, March 16, 2019, with the participation of author George Leopold, flight controller Rob Kelso and astronauts Tom Akers, Linda Godwin, Dick Richards, Jerry Ross and Charlie Walker. Members of the Grissom family, including Gus' brother Lowell Grissom, also attended.
Among the new items on display is a recovered part of an Apollo 11 F-1 engine, pictured here with Earl Mullins (credit: George Leopold).
BMacKinnon Member
Posts: 235 From: Waterford, MI. USA Registered: Jul 2007
posted 03-17-2019 09:30 PM
It was a great event and a neat little museum. Big crowd so I didn't get photos of everything they had. Close to 500 tickets were sold.
astro-nut Member
Posts: 1025 From: Washington, IL Registered: Jan 2006
posted 03-23-2019 02:30 PM
Great photos Brad! Thanks for sharing. That camera that you have must weigh about 30 pounds, but takes great photos!
Yes, it was a great day at the Grissom Center and Space Museum. I think the staff did a wonderful job of putting this all together and it was done nicely.
It was great to meet up with fellow collectSPACE members and to talk space! Always neat to meet and talk to new astronauts and flight directors as well. Also, got to meet Lowell Grissom and Scott Grissom. Just a wonderful day with a lot of SPACE!!!
Headshot Member
Posts: 1058 From: Vancouver, WA, USA Registered: Feb 2012
posted 03-24-2019 10:07 AM
Very nice set of pictures.
Looks like a fun place.
denali414 Member
Posts: 821 From: Raleigh, NC Registered: Aug 2017
posted 03-24-2019 03:49 PM
Awesome shots! Always great to see new exhibitions and ideas for what to do with our own collectibles. Neat to actually have some of the same items.
Zoo Keeper Member
Posts: 29 From: Oklahoma City, OK, USA Registered: Feb 2021
posted 03-19-2022 12:30 PM
The Space Museum and Grissom Center will be hosting "Gus's Birthday Bash" on April 2, 2022, an event celebrating the life of Mercury Astronaut Gus Grissom. From the museum's Facebook:
Join us Saturday, April 2nd as we celebrate the life of Mercury 7 astronaut, Air Force pilot, and American hero Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom! Gus's Birthday Bash will feature door prizes, games, science shows, a bounce house, birthday cake, museum tours, and more! Don't miss an extraordinary artifact presentation from NASA that will become one of The Space Museum and Grissom Center's premier exhibits. Special Guest Lowell Grissom will be in attendance as we honor the accomplishments of Gus Grissom, the second American in space and the namesake of our facility here in Bonne Terre, Missouri. We look forward to seeing you there!
Gilbert Member
Posts: 1435 From: Carrollton, GA USA Registered: Jan 2003
posted 03-22-2022 02:15 PM
I would love to attend this event and spend some time in the museum.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 48089 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
Fifty years after it was brought back from the moon, a small lunar rock has moved from the "Most Magical Place on Earth" to the "Show Me State."
NASA presented the moon rock to The Space Museum and Grissom Center in Bonne Terre, Missouri on Saturday (April 2), 15 years after it was first placed on exhibit at the Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. In both instances, the lunar display was done to honor Virgil "Gus" Grissom, the United States' second astronaut to fly into space.
Larry McGlynn Member
Posts: 1368 From: Boston, MA Registered: Jul 2003
posted 04-03-2022 08:36 PM
Congratulations Earl! You have done well done in Good Earth.
posted 03-17-2019 09:28 PM
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