Relive the Space Race at the Intrepid Museum’s Apollo Exhibit

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See a wide range of models from Spunik to lunar rovers and more at the Intrepid Museum’s Apollo: When We Went to the Moon exhibition. 

Reliving the Space Race at the Intrepid Museum

Spanning 9,000 square feet in the Space Shuttle Pavilion, the exhibition takes visitors on a trip back to the earliest days of the space race. JFK’s inaugural address ushers guests into another time and place as they traverse the long hallway to the exhibit’s opening scene: A model of Sputnik dangling overhead.

Visitors retrace the steps that led to the Apollo missions and ultimately to the first steps on the moon through artifacts that tell the story not only of the important people and architects behind the science of space travel but also the social upheaval that framed the period from the Civil Rights Movement to the Vietnam War.

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The scale of the Intrepid Museum’s Apollo exhibition is an awesome sight. 

Top Picks for Kids at the Apollo Exhibition

While little space fans may not grasp the historical significance of the Apollo exhibition at the Intrepid Museum, there are some fun touch points and experiences for young kids.

An immersive projection surrounds visitors with a three-screen scene depicting the Apollo 11 launch. The mashup of audio-visual technology is meant to transport visitors to the launch pad as mission control orchestrates the countdown and sends its famed crew into outer space.

Another fun perk for kids: Step onto the virtual lunar surface and watch as your moon boots leave their mark. Nearby, you can touch an actual lunar rock.

While you can peek into a Russian Soyuz capsule and stand under a scale model of a Saturn rocket, the most fun photo-op in the whole display is undoubtedly the lunar rover model that accommodates two guests at a time for a fun picture.

While the exhibition is all-ages-friendly, there’s a ton of reading to provide historical context. Little kids may not have the stamina to take it all in. The sweet spot is probably tweens and up, or younger kids who are truly fascinated by space and history. Allow about 45 minutes to view all the exhibition has to offer, and don’t forget to take time to step up to the Space Shuttle viewing platform while you’re there. It provides a cool juxtaposition between the beginnings of space travel and its advancements. 

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See a wide range of artifacts in the Apollo exhibition before exploring the rest of the Intrepid Museum.

More Fun at the Intrepid Museum

Apollo: When We Went to the Moon is now open and runs through Monday, September 2, 2024. Tickets to the exhibition are included with regular admission. While you’re there, be sure to check out the rest of the Intrepid Museum’s exhibit space, including its collection of aircraft, the submarine Growler, and the newly-restored Concorde jet, which reopens to visitors for guided tours this week.

All photos by the author.