First Man on the Moon - Memories
U.S. Astronaut on the Moon
Remembering the 1969 First Man on the Moon
On July 20, 1969, man first set foot on the moon. All Americans were fascinated by this first-ever event and that we had beat the Russians in putting a man on the moon.
People gathered to watch it, making it more of an occasion than just sitting alone in your living room and seeing it happen.
I asked my friends, family, and fellow writers to tell me what they remembered of that first moon landing. The memories they shared are showcased here.
Oh yes! We actually woke our 2-year-old son so that we could tell him later that he watched it on television! I need to remind him of that, and the grandchildren are old enough now to enjoy that story, too!
— Joan4Very Brief Video Showing the Highlights of Apollo 11 on the Moon
Did You See It On TV As It Happened?
Vote in the Poll
Featured Memory of the Moon Walk
I was at work that day but many shops and businesses had TVs going in their windows and people would watch it during their lunch break. That's where I saw it.
Video of People Remembering Their Excitement over the First Moon Landing
A bunch of my college friends got together to watch it on TV in El Dorado, Kansas. Unfortunately, the reception was so poor, that we could hardly tell what was on the screen. Despite that, we felt that we were part of a historic event.
— Virginia Allain from FloridaMemories of Watching The Moon Landing On TV
JULY 20, 1969 - MAN WALKS ON THE MOON
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CJ Garriott from Kansas - Yes indeed I remember! I was 34-years-old and sunbathing by the city pool in Emporia, KS, with my little radio on playing music. They broke in with the news of the landing. everyone gathered around, jumping up and down and cheering. Later I watched it on the news.
- Evelyn Saenz from Royalton - I remember watching it on TV, but not sure if it was at home or at school.
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CruiseReady 5 years ago from East Central Florida - We did it! We did it! It was fabulous!
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norma-holt - Watched the event on television with one of my babies in my arms. Awesome!
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BuddyBink - Watched the launch, then while at Scout Camp we had a little portable tv to watch the moment.
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mrducksmrnot - Watching on TV with my siblings and wondering is this really real. The Flash Gordon TV series traveled everywhere in comics and a short TV series.
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AlleyCatLane - Watched it at my parents home while I was home from college. It was fantastic!
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DLeighAlexander - Yes I was nine years old and it interrupted regular broadcasting--there was no choice. I also remember the familiar voice of Walter Cronkite giving details of the historic event.
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Peggy Hazelwood from Desert Southwest, U.S.A. - Yes, watched this and went out and looked at the moon that night. Got a better view from the TV!
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Coreena Jolene - I remember my father having me watch on our TV. He was so excited.
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BarbaraCasey - I was at a Sci-Fi convention in Toronto with authors who had written about space travel... and there it was on TV. Amazing.
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Jennifer P Tanabe from Red Hook, NY - Yeah, we couldn't see it very clearly on the old TV. But I remember the words Neil Armstrong spoke.
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Renaissance Woman from Colorado - I was in elementary school at the time. I remember our discussion about it and watching the television footage.
Featured Memory
Ann Hinds from So Cal - As a young mother with a 6-month-old child, it gave me that feeling that the whole world was open for exploration. What a great day!
More Moon Landing Memories from My Friends
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Tagsforkids - Like many, watched it on the old black and white TV with the family.
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Frischy from Kentucky - I was 10 years old. My parents had my sister and me come to the living room to watch this on television because it was "history." We had watched a lot of the moon launch on television at school. It was the first time I ever watched television or saw a tv set in a classroom. It was so remarkable!
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Monika Weise from Indianapolis - I watched it at a slumber party...I was not quite 10 years old.
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jolou - I remember watching this on TV with my parents.
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Nancy Carol Brown Hardin from Las Vegas, NV - I was amazed by our astronaut actually walking on the surface of the moon. But my Dad pooh-poohed the whole thing, and said, "There are places out west that look just like this, they just made it look like they're on the moon." He believed it until the day he died too, no matter what anyone said. (Virginia Allain from Central Florida - That's amazing, Nancy, I had no idea that some people thought it was a hoax.)
My stepfather was a science fiction fan - he made sure we were watching this on TV! I had built a model of the lunar lander. We more or less had a "home study" course all about the moon shots!
— MikeAstronaut Neil Armstrong
Watched it on the one television in our home with my mom, dad, and brothers. It was a wondrous time!
— Pam Irie from Hawaii
I was newly married and my husband and I slept on the couch that night so we could stay up and watch it live on TV. Very moving.
— Mary Beth Granger from O'Fallon, Missouri,Buzz Aldrin Walks on the Moon
I'd Like Your Memories Added to My Other Topics Too
- Do You Remember When Kennedy Was Shot?
The Kennedy assassination happened over 50 years ago but people still remember in great detail where they were and how they felt. Read their memories here. - Pearl Harbor Memories
Every December 7th, on Pearl Harbor Day, Americans remember that dreadful attack. 1941 was almost 80 years ago, so fewer have first-hand memories of the event. - Memories of World Events
When something terrible or great happens that is important on a national and international level, we tend to remember it and where we were at the time. I asked people to share their memories here.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2017 Virginia Allain
