House Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #1554 Apollo Historic Exhibit
Requester:	Dr. Calvin Fowler		Organization:		U.S. Space Walk of Fame Foundation
Project Title:	Apollo Historic Exhibit		Date Submitted:		01/27/2000 11:35:10 AM
District Member:	Randy Ball		Service Area:		Statewide
Counties Affected:	Brevard
Recipient:	U.S. Space Walk of Fame Foundation		Contact:		Dr. Calvin Fowler
	P.O. Box 6385		Contact Phone:		(321) 449-4503
	Titusville 32782-6385
Project Description:
Project Description: The U. S. Space Walk of Fame Foundation (SWOFF) is adding an outdoor museum space theme to the riverfront walk being built by Titusville, FL. The walk is to honor the over 50,000 Florida space program workers who made the United States of America and Florida preeminent in space exploration and use. SWOFF has completed the exhibits to recognize the Mercury and Gemini programs that preceded and were stepping stones for the Apollo Program during which man first was able to set foot on another celestial object. Apollo was identified as one of the most significant events during the last Century by: 1) Peter Jennings and Todd Brewster in The Century published by Doubleday, 1998. (pages 417-419, Apollo 11 mission) and, 2) Harold Evans in The American Century published by Alfred A. Knopf, 1998. (pages 554-555, Moon to Earth - The Eagle Has Landed.) Apollo was identified as one of the 100 most important events in the second millennium in The Life Millennium: The 100 Most Important Events and People of the Past 1,000 Years published by Life Books, Time Inc.; 1271 Avenue of the. Americas New York, N.Y. 10020, 1998. (No. 33: Apollo 11 and. Man-walking on the moon, pages 112-113). And in the history of mankind from 3,000 BC to 1970 in Milestones of History: 100 Decisive Events in the History of Mankind, George Weidenfeld, Nicolson Ltd. 1970 (pages 908-913). Almost every learned person who has published lists of the 100 most important events in the last century or millennium, like The Learning Channel, include Apollo in their list. The Apollo exhibit starts with a life size bust of President John F. Kennedy behind a podium announcing the Apollo Program on May 25, 1961 when he said, "I challenge this nation to place a man on the moon before the end of this decade and return him safely." To his left on 11 bronze panels, the Apollo program progresses from ideas being sketched on a blackboard through the various phases of hardware development to an life size astronaut standing on the moon subsequently landing in the Pacific Ocean. The base is topped with the famous Apollo symbol in stainless steel and an elliptical arch over the entire system. Apollo Astronaut handprints and names of the Apollo workers will surround the Apollo plaza. SWOFF has already constructed the exhibits to the Mercury and Gemini workers in 1995 and 1999 consecutively using funding from the space workers, local aerospace contractors and a generous non-aerospace Corporation. Sandmeyer Steel Company of Philadelphia, PA provided the stainless steel Mercury and Gemini emblems, is currently fabricating the Apollo Emblem for delivery in 2000, and will complete the elliptical arch in 2001.
Services Provided/Benefit to State:
Services Provided/ Benefit to State: The Space Walk of Fame Foundation's historic exhibits are free to the public regardless of race, religion, creed or country of origin 24 hours per day 365 days per year. This is the only place in the entire world that the ordinary person can learn about the past space programs and see and compare their hands to the handprints of the astronauts. The names and contributions of the Florida and USA Apollo space workers' names and contributions will be recorded for historians to study. On the 100th anniversary of Neil Armstrong stepping on the moon for the first time, they will undoubtedly be trying to determine how those people in the 1960s were able to leave earth and go to the moon with such crude technology and limited knowledge. The Space Walk of Fame already hosts over 100,000 visitors per year, They visit the park every day. On special occasions such as Senator John Glenn's recent shuttle flight, over 10,000 people were in the park. Tourists from all over the world visit this historic attraction and educational center and contribute to Brevard County and Florida's tourist economy. Most importantly the State of Florida will recognize the over 50,000 Floridians who contributed so much to the advancement of knowledge about the universe and mankind.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
Progress toward completion of the project will be accomplished every month. The final outcome will be an Apollo Exhibit. This will attract tourists and aid in the redevelopment of old downtown Titusville.
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:				$460,000
Total cost of the project:		$695,000

Request has been made to fund:			Construction
Is there Local Government or Private match for this request?					Yes
	Cash Amount:	$135,000		In-Kind Amount:	$100,000
Was this project previously funded by the State?					No
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?					No
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?					No
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?					No
Is there a documented need for this project?					Yes
	Documentation:	Florida should pay homage to 50,000 Apollo Program workers who made manned space flight possible.
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?					Yes
	Hearing Body:	Brevard County Commissioners on 12-7-99; Titusville City Council on 1-26-00
	Meeting Date:	12/07/1999