The creator of “The Apollo Experience” now on display at the Salem Bryan Bennett Library says he’s been collecting items related to the space mission for years.
Jim Jones says it wasn’t until he learned his grandson had no knowledge of the space program that he decided to take the display on the road. He started in schools with lots of interest, but had to turn to libraries when schools would no longer host the display once COVID-19 hit.
Jones says the highlight of the display is the astronaut space suit. He acquired it after a museum decided to drop a planned display. Jones then worked to make the suit more authentic.
Jones says there a lot of additional items on display related to the space mission.
“I have the large tower with the Saturn 5 rocket on it and has little me to give you an idea of how big this tower was. I also have the moon landing that shows the astronauts and experiments they did on the moon. Command module and service module on the Lunar Rover model and the Snoopy Chat I had redone. Then there was the guidance computer keyboard and a replica of the oldest rocks found on the moon from Apollo 15.”
Jones says the rock is one of 500 commissioned by NASA.
The exhibit will be on display during normal Bryan Bennett Library hours through December 11th. The library also has a number of books on the space missions on display and available for those who want to read further on the subject.
