Henry Crown Space Center Explained

Henry Crown Space Center
Location:	5700 South Lake Shore Drive (at East 57th Street), Chicago, Illinois, US, 60637
Type:	Space Museum
Collection:	Spacecraft Remote control Mars Rover Apollo 8 spacecraft Aurora 7 capsule

Henry Crown Space Center opened in 1986.^[1] The space center includes artifacts and interactive exhibits about space travel. Located in the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, the Henry Crown Space Center includes the Apollo 8 spacecraft and Aurora 7 capsule.^[2]

Exhibits

• Interactive docking simulation with a replica of the International Space Station.^[2]
• Remote control Mars Rover^[2]
• Apollo 8 spacecraft^[2]
• Aurora 7 capsule^[2]
• Jet-packs that astronauts wear
• Lunar module used for Apollo 11 training^[3]

History

The museum was established with a donation from philanthropist Henry Crown. Crown was a billionaire who built General Dynamics. General Dynamics also played a role in Aerospace.^{[4] [5]}

The space center opened with a visit from James Lovell in 1986.^[1] The cost of the Space center was 12 million dollars. The museum of Science and Industry in Chicago also opened an OmniMax theater in 1986: it was built inside the space center.^{[6] [7]} The space center was remodeled and reopened in May of 2024.

External links

• Henry Crown Space Center
• "Aviation: From Sand Dunes to Sonic Booms", a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage travel itinerary
• A Field Guide to American Spacecraft
• Documentary of the U.S. Space Program in Florida

Notes and References

1. News: Faust . Pete . MUSEUM'S SPACE CENTER OPENS ON HOPEFUL NOTE . 21 August 2019 . Chicago Tribune . 1 July 1986.
2. Web site: Space Is the Place . msichicago . Museum of Science and Industry . 21 August 2019.
3. News: Museum Of Science And Industry Celebrates 50th Anniversary Of Apollo 11's First Moon Landing . 21 August 2019 . CBS Broadcasting Inc . 17 July 2019.
4. Web site: The Legacy of Henry Crown . aspeninstitute . Aspen Institute . 21 August 2019.
5. Web site: Meadows . Jonah . Henry Crown's Former Mansion Sold In Evanston . patch . Patch Media . 21 August 2019 .
6. News: Pridemore . Jay . OMNIMAX IS MUSEUM'S NEWEST STAR . 21 August 2019 . Chicago Tribune . 27 June 1986.
7. News: Friedman Miner . Lisa . Where you can mark Apollo 11's 50th anniversary in Chicago and the suburbs . 21 August 2019 . Chicago daily Herald . Paddock Publications, Inc.