Moon Rock Lands at Main Library

Downtown Fort Lauderdale's Main Library has a new addition to its collection - an actual piece of the moon, donated by Susan Eisele Black, the wife of the late Donn F. Eisele, a former Apollo 7 astronaut. Safely ensconced and on permanent display, the priceless artifact is located on the 6th floor of the library, where the public is invited to come for a free viewing during regularly scheduled library hours.

"Since Donn and I lived in Fort Lauderdale, I chose to place to the moon rock in the Main Library in downtown Fort Lauderdale," she said. "This location gives more people the opportunity to see it. The moon rock is an important part of our history."

The moon rock was officially dedicated on Tuesday, October 23, 2007, and the Broward County Commission has proclaimed that date as "Moon Rock Day" in Broward County. Mrs. Eisele-Black, a longtime member of the Broward Public Library Foundation, also attended the ceremony, as did Apollo 7's lunar module pilot, Walter Cunningham.

"This is a great day for Broward County," said Broward County Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion, who attended the ceremony. "This generous donation is an outstanding piece of America's history, and we are more than fortunate to be able to showcase a specimen that came from the moon in Broward County's Main Library. We are proud the Eisele's chose our library as the moon rock's home."

The dime-sized specimen was originally awarded through NASA's Ambassador of Exploration Award, which offers astronauts of Apollo missions that took place between 1968 and 1972 pieces of 842 pounds of moon material collected during those early explorations. Donn Eisele, who passed away in 1987, was the command module pilot for 1968's Apollo 7, NASA's first successful three-man space mission. A video of Apollo 7's contributions to the "space race" is also part of the exhibition.

"Broward County Library is certainly honored to be able to offer the community the opportunity to view an object of such significance," says Broward County Library Director Robert E. Cannon. "We are the only library in the United States to have an exhibit of an actual moon rock, and we are grateful that we can give people the chance to see something so unique and momentous."

The donation kicked off a year of space-themed library programming, including films, lectures and educational events for children, teens, and adults, all funded by the Broward Public Library Foundation. The events will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Space Age, which began with the launch of Sputnik I on October 4, 1957.

Starting from October 2007 until October 2008, NASA will host a slew of events commemorating the anniversary of 50 years of scientific and technological excellence, including a Future Forum to be held in Miami on April 18, and two Kennedy Space Center Family Picnic Days scheduled for April and May at the Kennedy Space Center.

For more information on NASA's 50th anniversary events, including an interactive timeline, photo gallery, and more, please visit http://www.nasa.gov/50th/home/index.html. 

For details on Broward County Library space-themed programs, check the library's monthly magazine Bookings.