In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing, the South Carolina State Museum is launching Space Week, July 20 through July 28, sponsored by Boeing. This special weeklong event is loaded with space-themed excitement for the entire family. Guests will get to discover the museum’s new Apollo 50: Journey to the Moon exhibit, experience Fly Me to the Moon 4D, a special documentary screening of The Day We Walked on the Moon, planetarium shows and more astronomical activities.
Experience Space Week at the South Carolina State Museum
A weeklong event celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11 launches July 20
Apollo 50: Journey to the Moon
This new immersive exhibition charts the history of NASA’s Apollo space program and South Carolina’s role in the lunar exploration. Guests will embark on a journey through the years of the Apollo program, learning about Apollo 16 astronaut and South Carolina native, Charles Duke along with other notable South Carolinians who contributed to the program. Guests will be able to sit in a made to scale Apollo Lunar Rover, see a collection of Charles Duke artifacts, meteorites, moon rocks and even small fragments from Mars are also now on display. This exhibit is the first of three phases of a major renovation to the third-floor space gallery to be completed just in time for the launch of Space Week.
The Day We Walked on the Moon
Hear from astronauts, members of Mission Control and the children of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin as they reveal their personal stories behind the scenes of the iconic day. It’s a story that ranges from the deeply personal to the grand and historic, and in-depth look at one of the most important 24-hour periods in history. This special, 45 minute, Smithsonian Channel documentary is free with general admission on membership and will be showing daily, July 20 – 28.
Mystery Moon Theatre Live!
Tues., July 23 from 5 – 8 p.m.
Guests will experience the classic science fiction film Destination Moon in the style of Mystery Science Theater 3000 with comedians from Trustus Theater’s improve group, “The Mothers.” The guest comedians will give their hilarious commentary as guests watch the film in the museum’s 4D theater. Mystery Moon Theater Live will feature space-themed beer from Columbia Craft Brewing Company, constellation lantern creation stations, cash bar and more. Sponsored by Colonial Life. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for museum members.
Friday Night Laser Lights
Fri., July 26 from 6 – 11 p.m.
This Apollo themed event features lasers and CGI visuals choreographed to music inside the museum’s 55ft digital dome Planetarium. Cash bar includes space-themed craft beer and a specialty cocktail. Plus, guests can explore the museum’s Apollo 50: Journey to the Moon exhibit. Shows include The Beatles Abbey Road, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, and Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon Full Dome Show. Tickets are $10 for the general public ($8 museum members) for one show and $15 for the general public ($12 museum members) for two shows.
Astronomy Day
Sat., July 27 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Join the museum for a special day focused on our world and the universe beyond through a variety of fun science activities and demonstrations including Virtual Reality, robotics fun and more. Guests can also see the new movie, Fly Me to the Moon 4D, explore the newly renovated space and science gallery and experience a show in the planetarium. Plus, the Boeing Observatory will be open for solar viewing. Astronomy Day is free with museum general admission or membership.
All during Space Week guests are invited to enjoy hands-on, interactive space-themed fun throughout the museum. Guests will be able to design and launch their own rocket, check out a variety of astronomy focused creation stations and learn about forces and friction with hovercraft rides (Mon. – Thurs. only). Astronomical Activities are free with museum general admission or membership.
About the South Carolina State Museum: As the state’s largest and most comprehensive museum, the South Carolina State Museum, offers a unique, entertaining and educational experience to visitors throughout its 225,000 square foot facility located in the heart of downtown Columbia’s Congaree Vista. The State Museum is housed in one of its largest artifacts, an 1894 former textile mill listed on the National Registrar of Historic Places. In addition to beautiful meeting spaces throughout the facility, guests can explore outer space in one of the largest planetariums in the Southeast, watch an interactive 4D movie and look through a vintage telescope in a one-of-a-kind observatory. These exciting opportunities are all in addition to the four floors of South Carolina art, cultural history, natural history, and science/technology. Visit scmuseum.org to learn more