The Great Northern Eclipse
Thanks to the ten's of thousands of visitors who came to Wapakoneta on Monday, April 8, 2024 to experience the total solar eclipse!
The weather was perfect and the grounds of the Armstrong Air & Space Museum was teeming with folks and their telescopes, cameras and eclipse glasses to take part in that incredible celestial phenomenon. Visitors also spent time in downtown Wapakoneta and enjoyed the Ring of Fire Festival at the Auglaize County Fairgrounds.
FOTM Merchandise
Shop Local! Check out the newest First on the Moon Merchandise at local retailers and online here.
Out of this World Flavors
Back by popular demand!
The Moon Menu Trail was a project during the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing to celebrate the great tastes Wapakoneta has to offer.
Take part by stopping and trying 15 different items at participating businesses. Scan the QR code each time and we'll reserve a squeezie astronaut just for you!
FOTM Wins T-Mobile Grant for Space Themed, All Abilities Play Equipment
First on the Moon inc. was awarded a T-Mobile Hometown Grant for $50,000 to purchase a Rocket Ship themed, all abilities play ground set for Harmon Park in Wapakoneta. With 6,000 grant entries, T-Mobile awarded 25 grants across the nation. The FOTM grant was the only project funded in Ohio.
There was a great celebration as T-Mobile representatives visited Harmon Park to present the check. It is hoped the play equipment will be installed by the fall. This will be the first all abilities equipment in the Wapakoneta Park System.
Wapakoneta's Legacy ParkPlatz home to the newest
First on the Moon commissioned sculpture
Along with the Helmet the art installation includes the handprints of all four frogmen who retrieved the Apollo 11 astronauts from the ocean when they returned to Earth, a granite tile with a replica of the first step imprint and a granite monument showing the moonscape and the quote "We came in peace for all mankind."
Designed by Lepo Works of Lima, Ohio, the aluminum and stainless steel, seven foot tall Helmet is a fun, interactive nod to the Apollo 11 Mission to the Moon.
Did you know the only photographs of Neil Armstrong on the Moon are the ones reflected in Buzz Aldrin's visor?
Artists David and Robert Lepo said that was the inspiration for the sculpture which was unveiled in a ceremony on July 1, 2022.
Artists David and Robert Lepo speak at the sculpture unveiling with First on the Moon President Rachel Barber
Unsung Heroes of the Apollo 11 Mission Honored
in Wapakoneta
The four frogmen who pulled astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins from their Apollo 11 capsule in 1969 had a whimsical painting dedicated to them in the First in the Moon inc. Utility box art program. Clancy Hatteberg, Mike Mallory, John Wolfrom and Wes Chesser posed with the artwork, which is located on Bellefontaine Avenue at the intersection of Wood, Pearl and Mechanic streets, when they visited Wapakoneta during the 2021 Summer Moon Festival.
Road Trip Worthy:
Giant Roadside Mural First on the Moon
"Tribute to Apollo 11" in West Central Ohio
It’s meant to surprise, delight and spark conversation and the new Giant Roadside Mural: Tribute to Apollo 11, in west central Ohio, certainly does all that and MORE!
Each year famous roadside muralist, artist John Cerney chooses a topic or theme and donates one of his works of art to a community or organization. Last year’s 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing got him thinking about that feat and the man who took those first steps onto the moon. Cerney of Salinas, California, contacted the Wapakoneta Chamber of Commerce early in 2020 and offered to donate one of his murals if the right location could be found. The local group, First on the Moon, took on the project and the rest, as they say, is history.
Cerney painted the various components in his studio in California and then traveled cross-country to deliver and construct it on site. The mural is located about three miles east of Wapakoneta on US 33. It is viewable from the westbound lane. Cerney’s giant works of art can be found in 28 states and Canada, this is Ohio’s first Cerney mural and it is a great excuse for a fun road trip.
After checking out the giant roadside mural, you will want
to continue into Wapakoneta and visit the Armstrong
Air & Space Museum. While there, be sure to take a selfie
with the two bronze statues of Neil Armstrong. One
depicts him as a youth dreaming of someday becoming
a pilot and the other as an adult in flight gear, having
accomplished that long held dream.
Complete your road trip with a visit to historic downtown
Wapakoneta. It is filed with wonderful, unique shops
and great places to grab a snack or a meal. There is a
third bronze statue of Neil Armstrong, downtown. This one depicts him waving to the crowds as he did during a huge Homecoming Parade following his trip to the moon. For more information on these and other fun thingsto see and do in west central Ohio check out SeeMore.org
Who We Are
First on the Moon enhances public understanding of and appreciation for Wapakoneta, Ohio's, unique identity as the home of Neil A. Armstrong, first person to walk on the moon. We do this through public arts and humanities programming!
Metal Utility Boxes Become Works of Art!
First on the Moon, inc. has been busy working on projects that not only beautify the community but also enhance the link between Wapakoneta and its heritage as the home town of Neil Armstrong, first man on the moon.
Working with Riverside Art Center and Wapakoneta City Council to bring public art to the historic downtown area, two street side utility boxes now showcase the artwork of Ayla Webb & Jennifer Sowders. These boxes are located at the intersection of Auglaize and Hamilton Streets. Sowders and Webb won their divisions in the “50 years of Space” art contest that took place at Riverside Art Center in 2019 during the 50th anniversary celebration of theApollo11 mission to the moon.
A third utility box, located on Willipie Street near Auglaize Street, is now sporting a vibrant tie-dye rendition of the First on the Moon logo on its street side. The backside of eye-catching design features five fun facts about Neil Armstrong and Wapakoneta.
A special thank you to IC Signs for their designand workmanship on these challenging projects.
Celebrating Leap Day with One Giant Leap into the Record Books
On February 29, 2020 more than 300 “Astronauts” gathered in Wapakoneta for the One Giant Leap Day Celebration. First on the Moon, Inc. put out the call for people to come to Wapakoneta, costumed as astronauts, to help set a new Guinness Book World Record for the “Most People Dressed like an Astronaut in One Location”.There were strict criteria for the attempt and the effort had to be recorded and reported including sworn testimony from local judges. The current record to beat was 257, more than 300 showed up in Wapakoneta on that frigid February day. They came from all over Ohio and eastern Indiana. We believe that our attempt was successful and a new record was set. The application is still in the hands of the World Record Book team and we are awaiting their determination on our apparent victory.
Wapakoneta
A great place to visit, not an easy name to pronounce!
Give it a try: WAH puh kuh NEH tuh
Still having a tough time, you are not alone.
Check out the video below.