It’s the summer of 1969. Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Apollo 11 are in the thoughts of people across the nation and splashed throughout the pages of newspapers everywhere. July 20 marks the day when the two men on their historic space flight landed on the moon.
The epic event was widely published for readers, which gave them a front-row seat as it unfolded. Take a step back in time as Neil Armstrong prepares to make his historic first step on the moon in these five vintage periodicals.
To prepare the public for the landing, The Galveston Daily News and many other newspapers shared the Apollo timeline with readers. It included a play-by-play of the day leading up to the launch, as well as the eventual landing of the lunar module and its famous occupants.
Neil Armstrong’s home state of Ohio carried all kinds of news to celebrate the “hometown” boy on the lunar mission. The Lima News published the article “Neil Readies for Footprint”, along with several others highlighting the event. One stand-out feature included a story about a shipment of “moon cheese” to Mission Control from Wapakoneta, Ohio, Neil’s hometown.
The famous first words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” graced the incredible front page headline of the July 21, 1969 issue of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The article included “More About the Moon” on additional pages throughout paper.
Making front-page news on July 21, 1969, in the Mount Pleasant News were the articles “Successful Moon Landing and Liftoff,” as well as “Moon Talk by the Astronauts” written in the words of the astronauts themselves.
Not only did newspapers detail the event, but many included phenomenal pictures, creating a stunning visual account. The Chicago Tribune’s July 21, 1969 edition added a photo of President Nixon’s “long-distance” call to Buzz and the boys, as well as Pope Paul VI peering through the papal telescope at Castel Gandolfo.
Newspapers of 1969 are brimming with articles just like these showcasing the first lunar landing. Interested in learning more? Visit NewspaperArchive.com for a 7-Day Free Trial to read other accounts detailing this momentous occasion.
