Historic Relic

Object/Artifact

Vermont Historical Society

Name/Title

Historic Relic

Entry/Object ID

1970.13

Description

Wooden pedestal holding small fragments of material from the surface of the moon. The fragments are suspended in a resin sphere at the center top of the pedestal. Beneath the sphere is a small Vermont state flag. The whole face of the pedestal is covered in plexiglass. The base of the pedestal bears two metal plaques or labels. The top says, "PRESENTED TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE VERMONT BY RICHARD NIXON PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". The lower says, "This flag of your state was carried to the Moon and back by Apollo 11, and this fragment of the Moon's surface was brought to Earth by the crew of that first manned lunar landing."

Context

Presented to the State of Vermont by President Richard Nixon.

Acquisition

Accession

1970.13

Source or Donor

State of Vermont

Acquisition Method

Transfer

Credit Line

Governor Deane C. Davis

Made/Created

Date made

1969 - 1970

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Relic, Historic

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Memorabilia

Nomenclature Class

Documentary Objects

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Height

11-3/8 in

Width

9-1/2 in

Depth

7-1/4 in

Material

Wood, Stone, Plexiglass, Glass, Plastic

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Davis, Deane C. (1900-1990)

Person or Organization

NASA

Interpretative Labels

Label

Historic Relic, 1969 Wood, nylon, plexiglass, rock By gift from Governor Deane C. Davis, 1970.13 These Moon rocks were brought back from the moon's surface by astronauts Neal Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, Jr. July 16-24, 1969 on the Apollo 11 flight. These chips, weighing 50 milligrams, are fragments of crystalline rock, breccia and glass sieved from the dusty lunar surface. The enclosed Vermont flag was also aboard the lunar module that landed on the Mare Tranquillitatis. This display was given to the State of Vermont in 1970 by then-President Richard Nixon. Samples were given to 135 nations, US possessions and US states.