FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Jan. 31, 2014

CONTACT: Jeff Mammenga, Media Coordinator, (605) 773-6000, Jeff.Mammenga@state.sd.us

Apollo 8 Astronauts Featured in Feb. 9 Program at Cultural Heritage Center

PIERRE, S.D. – The Museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society will host a special webcast from the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum entitled "An Evening with the Apollo 8 Astronauts," at 2 p.m. CDT on Sunday, Feb. 9, at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. 

In late December 1968, the Apollo 8 crew of Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders became the first humans to leave Earth and journey to another world. They spent 20 hours orbiting the Moon, and then made the flight back home. 

Apollo 8 is famous for delivering the famous TV broadcast in which they read from the Biblical book of Genesis. During the mission, the three astronauts witnessed something no other human had ever seen -- Earth rising over the lunar surface. Captured on camera, this image has become one of the most well-known of the last 40 years. Apollo 8's success paved the way for Apollo 11, the first human landing on the Moon, in July 1969.

All three astronauts shared stories about their careers and the Apollo 8 mission in this program, recorded on Nov. 13, 2008, at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. 

There is no fee to view the program, held in the center’s education room, but standard admission fees apply for visitors wishing to tour the museum galleries.

“This is a great opportunity to learn more about America’s space program,” said Jay Smith, director of the museum. “There are very few entities that can deliver a program that includes three living astronauts, and we are deeply appreciative of the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum for making the program available. I am sure a broad audience will enjoy this program.”

The South Dakota State Historical Society became a Smithsonian Affiliate in 2013 and it is the only facility in South Dakota to enjoy this designation.

The presentation was originally broadcast on Nov. 13, 2008 as part of the John H. Glenn Lecture Series.

About Smithsonian Affiliations

Established in 1996, Smithsonian Affiliations is a national outreach program that develops long-term collaborative partnerships with museums, educational and cultural organizations to enrich communities with Smithsonian resources. The long-term goal of Smithsonian Affiliations is to facilitate a two-way relationship among Affiliate organizations and the Smithsonian Institution to increase discovery and inspire lifelong learning in communities across America. More information about the Smithsonian Affiliations program and Affiliate activity is available at https://affiliations.si.edu.

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The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Tourism. The Department of Tourism is comprised of Tourism, the South Dakota Arts Council and the State Historical Society. The Department is led by Secretary James D. Hagen. The State Historical Society, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is headquartered at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. The center houses the society’s world-class museum, the archives, and the historic preservation, publishing and administrative/development offices. Call (605) 773-3458 or visit history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call (605) 394-1936 for more information.