50 for 50: Wright Flyer Pieces Taken on Apollo 11

Why It Matters

The exhibit ties U.S. aviation heritage to the Apollo lunar achievement, reinforcing national technological continuity and offering a tangible link between early flight innovation and human space exploration. It also provides a unique, state-focused way to engage the public with museum collections and history.

Summary

To mark its 50th anniversary, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is showcasing one artifact from each state; Ohio’s entry is a fragment of the 1903 Wright Flyer that actually traveled to the moon. Neil Armstrong carried a small piece of fabric from the Flyer’s left wing and slivers of propeller wood aboard Apollo 11’s lunar module Eagle in 1969, and those items were left on the lunar surface. The museum highlights the Ohio connection: Armstrong grew up roughly an hour from where the Wright brothers built the Flyer, linking the pioneers of powered flight with the first moonwalker. The Wright Flyer pieces are displayed in the Wright brothers gallery in Washington, D.C., and the museum’s website lists all 50 artifacts.

Original Description

The “50 for 50” artifacts for Ohio are pieces of the Wright Flyer that Neil Armstrong took to the Moon on Apollo 11.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Museum and the U.S. 250th, the “50 for 50” project will spotlight one artifact from every U.S. state and territory: https://s.si.edu/4uE1Qsk