Friday, October 6, 2017, 9:30 AM – 12 PM
Docomomo US Tour Day 2017
Tickets: $10 Houston Mod Members; $15 General
Please join Houston Mod for a special private tour (by van and foot) focusing on original, modern era campus facilities and current preservation efforts. The tour will include the historic Apollo Mission Control Center, a National Historic Landmark. The Apollo Mission Control Center is currently undergoing a major Restoration Project to commemorate the technological and human achievement of the lunar landing by returning the room to its state during Apollo 11.
This event is part of Docomomo US Tour Day, an annual celebration of modern architecture and design where the public and like-minded organizations across the country simultaneously participate in tours. Tour Day 2017 includes over 50 tours, in over 30 cities hosted by Docomomo US chapters, partners and leading voices in preservation, including Houston Mod.
Important Ticket Information:
– 100% of ticket sales will be donated to the Apollo Mission Control Center restoration
– Tickets are limited; we may fill no more than two passenger vans.
– No tickets will be available after October 1; time is required for tour badge processing.
– Foreign Nationals are required to submit a passport photo page to NASA by September 29; please contact us immediately if this applies to you.
The four main tasks for the new Houston Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC) were spacecraft development; mission control; research and development; and astronaut selection and training. The MSC, now Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC), officially opened in June 1964 after a short two-year construction period.
The initial MSC campus and building design team was headed by master planners Charles Luckman Associates of Los Angeles and the Houston architect-engineer firm Brown & Root, with additional designs by Brooks & Barr; Harvin C. Moore; MacKie & Kamrath; and Wirtz, Calhoun, Tungate, & Jackson.
Gemini (1964-1966) and Apollo (1964-1972) were the first programs to be organized and operated from the MSC. Gemini IV was the first mission controlled at Houston’s Mission Control Center in June 1965. The Apollo Program flew 11 manned and six unmanned missions between 1964 and 1972; all but the initial unmanned flights were controlled from Houston, including Apollo 8, the first lunar orbit; and Apollo 11, the first lunar landing.
Attendee Instructions:
- Driver License / ID – Don’t forget to bring your valid state issued identification!
- Arrive Early – Tour will start promptly at 9:30 am from the Rocket Park Parking Lot. Houston Mod board members will be present in the lot to check you in starting at 9:10 am.
- Parking – Enter gate 1 located at the corner of Second Street and Saturn Lane. JSC Security will greet each vehicle; tell the guard you are going to Rocket Park and they will direct you to the nearby small parking area; see map below.
- Carpool – If possible, consider carpooling; the Rocket Park parking area is small. Overflow parking spaces may be made in the adjacent grass area if the lot fills up.
- Shoes – We will be walking both outside and inside of buildings, we request that you wear comfortable, completely enclosed, flat shoes to comply with safety regulations.
- Photos – Cameras and cell phones are welcome. If you share photos on social media, tour tags include: #HoustonMod #NASAJSC #TourDay #ExploreModern #DocomomoUS
- Rocket Park – You are welcome to take the free self-guided tour of Rocket Park and view several 1960-70s mission rockets, including Saturn V inside the park warehouse, before or after the Houston Mod tour.