Home » Culture & Society » History » Space Age

A Letter from Neil Armstrong - the Man who Walked on the Moon

Ranked #2,330 in Culture & Society, #52,025 overall | Donates to Soldiers Angels

Neil Armstrong walks on the moon and almost 40 years later, a letter he signed is found by me

On July 20,1969, the date that Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, I was working at a summer camp, and stood outside the screened-in area of a camper with many others that warm summer night, watching the grainy black and white images of man walking on the moon on a small television screen. 40 plus years have passed since, and I can only imagine how valuable the letter I'm going to tell you about would be right now.

I love digging through dusty, musty boxes of old paper items that have been in basements or attics for years. Boxes full of things like old letters, books, postcards, articles, magazines, and other paper things.

First I wonder why a family would want to give up things so precious...things that belonged to their parents or grandparents, but then I realize not everyone is sentimental like me...and if they were, I'd never have the pleasure of doing what I do.

Let me tell you how I found the Neil Armstrong letter with his signature on it, and what happened to the letter.



Claudia a/k/a happynutritionist
Updated 1/26/12

Poll: Did Man Really Walk on the Moon?

Is there any doubt?

I was stunned to find out that there are actually people who think the moon mission never really happened, that it was all a conspiracy, trick photography, what have you. I'm just curious, how many of you believe that is true. The poll is anonymous.

Loading poll. Please Wait...

How I found a Neil Armstrong Letter in a Box of Paper

Headed out the door to a dumpster

It was while at an Estate sale auction, AFTER the auction, when you could look through the things no one bid on, that I came upon a box full of paper...it looked like garbage, in fact in moments it would be garbage, taken out to the dumpster because no one had bid on it. On closer inspection, a file folder thick with papers caught my eye. I decided to take the folder home with me for a closer look.

This is when I discovered a letter from Neil Armstrong with his signature.  It was laminated, written to a man who had written a little song he hoped would be played at the Moon Mission events. Neil Armstrong typed, or had typed, a very nice, personal reply, with his signature.  The man was so excited about receiving this letter, it became news in the local paper, so a news clipping was attached to the letter.

The letter was written within weeks of the moon mission that Neil Armstrong is famous for, and as a new eBayer, I decided to list the letter.  The bidding started right away, and so did the phone calls.  One in particular came from a gentleman who had just taken his young son to meet Neil Armstrong.  I had a hard time believing his story, as so many were interested in purchasing the letter, but my heart melted when he emailed me pictures of his son with Armstrong, saying he wanted to frame the letter with pictures on each side, and give it to his son.

So, I did one of the worst things a new eBayer can do, I closed the listing, even though it had bidders, and sold it to this gentleman for a good price, then spent the rest of the week dealing with angry bidders who were not at all happy with me closing the listing early.  I did learn a lesson that day about selling on eBay, and have never closed a listing with bidders since, but in this case, it was worth it, and I hope that somewhere out there is a very happy young man.

I do wonder sometimes if the person who bought the Neil Armstrong letter for his son might find this page someday and leave a comment to say hello.

Video of Neil Amstrong Walking on the Moon plus Apollo 11 UFO Encounter and More

Landing, Anniversary and Seeing a UFO

Among these videos about the Apollo 11 moon landing there is an account by Neil Armstrong of a UFO encounter.
First Moon Landing 1969
by beanz2u | video info

10,187 ratings | 7,314,884 views
automatically generated by YouTube

NASA and Other Space Websites

Space Center Houston
Visit this site for information about the Houston Space Center, plan a visit, view a lot of great links.
Main NASA Website
Main NASA Site, kid center, lots of great info.
Kennedy Space Center
Visiting Kennedy Space Center will make your Orlando, Florida is a great addition to your vacation visit, plus the site has a lot of information about the space center.
Official Kennedy Space Center Site
Space.com, everything Space!
Space.com provides information on everything Space - satellites, stars, astronomy, the Sun, planets, NASA and more.

Neil Armstrong in the News

Updates every 30 minutes

I don't know whether the news feed will give us just the famous astronaut, or every Neil Armstrong in the news...I'll let you use your discretion as to which articles to read.
What Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin left behind
Armstrong and Aldrin put it there on July 21, 1969, less than an hour before their last moonwalk (no Michael Jackson jokes, please). Now, thirty-five years later, it is the only Apollo scientific experiment still functioning. Here's how it works, ...
Producer Marc Shmuger to Chronicle the Space (Suit) Race with 'Fashioning Apollo'
Kat Likkel and John Hoberg are adapting the story of a group of seamstresses who created spacesuits for Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Producer Marc Shmuger is setting up Spacesuit: Fashioning Apollo, a film version of Nicholas de Monchaux's book of ...
Earth Station: The Afterlife of Technology at the End of the World
Neil Armstrong reflected in Buzz Aldrin's spacesuit helmet. The first trip to the moon is known as a technological triumph, and rightly so. Traveling 238000 miles, landing on another celestial body, and returning to the Earth is no small feat.
Nixon had Apollo 11 moon disaster speech ready
But he and the President were ready for the worst, should astronauts Neil Armstrong and New Jersey native Edwin ?Buzz? Aldrin meet with an untimely end during the 1969 historic moon landing mission. Safire, who later went on to become a columnist at ...
Powered by Google

NASA Pictures and Photos

Loading

I still sell things on eBay now and again as claudias_corner_auctions

If anything is listed, it will show up here

Loading

This is another place I love to list as njbabyboomer

NASA in the News

Updates every 30 minutes

50 years ago, John Glenn became America's biggest hero
by Daniel Terdiman February 17, 2012 4:00 AM PST Follow @GreeterDan Monday is the 50th anniversary of NASA astronaut John Glenn's mission to be the first American to orbit the Earth. On that day, Glenn became one of America's most important heroes.
" Nasa struggles even as its science missions bring universe into sharper focus"
Space shuttle Atlantis touches down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on July 21, ending NASA's 30-year shuttle program. By Joel Achenbach / The Washington Post Life is tough these days at NASA, the space agency that can't launch anyone into space.
Keeping NASA's Next Space Telescope Under Control: Q&A with Scott Willoughby
by Denise Chow, SPACE.com Staff Writer NASA's next generation James Webb Space Telescope is an ambitious infrared observatory that is expected to yield exciting results about the universe, but in recent years, the project's swelling budget has been a ...
Private Xombie Rocket Aces NASA Landing Test
A private suborbital rocket passed a landing test for NASA with flying colors this month in a succesful trial run of technology that could help future spacecraft touch down on other planets or moons. On Feb. 2, Masten Space Systems' Xombie rocket rose ...
Powered by Google

Neil Armstrong Moon Mission Items of Interest

6

Vote Up
Apollo 8, 9 and 11 Documentary Film Collection DVD

Apollo 8, 9 and 11 Documentary Film Collection DVD

This is a collection of 6 fascinating films about the more...0 points

7

Vote Up
Time Magazine: Man In Space

Time Magazine: Man In Space

July 20, 1969....it is seconds before humankind wi more...0 points

8

Vote Up
Return to Earth - The True Story of an Astronaut's Battle with Depression

Return to Earth - The True Story of an Astronaut's Battle with Depression

The tru story of Astronaut Buzz Aldrin's fight wit more...0 points

Neil Armstrong on eBay

Available for a limited time

If an item claims to have Neil Armstrong's autograph, or is stated as an authentic item, do your homework and make sure it is. Communicate with the seller, make sure they have a good feedback rating.
Loading

This is a Squid Angel Blessed Lens

Thank you

We appreciate it when special people called "lensmasters" on Squidoo visit, and like what they see enough to "bless" our lens. If the terms Squidoo, lensmasters, lenses, and Squid Angel are foreign to you, you should join us on Squidoo and in time, it will all make sense:-)

Did you enjoy your visit? Thumbs up appreciated

Thank you!

If you would like to rate this lens, then you can do so here if your a Squidoo member, anyone can send by email (I think?). Better yet, join Squidoo, and make your own lens about something you love..it's easy!

This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.

Add this to your lens »

Please say hello if you have a moment

Guestbook

submit
  • Reply
    Tommy Nov 2, 2011 @ 6:27 pm | delete
    i was 11 & i was going to be a chef on the 1st space liner, i am still waiting. It is a shame that we dropped the ball. wars and politics seem more important. what a waste.
  • Reply
    maximross Nov 2, 2011 @ 12:22 am | delete
    Great lens - this guy is one of my all time heroes.
  • Reply
    kitty222 Apr 10, 2011 @ 11:01 pm | delete
    Aw, that's sweet! Did you, by any chance, happen to save the contents of this letter? Very weird that nobody bid on it in the original estate auction!
  • Reply
    happynutritionist Apr 12, 2011 @ 1:44 pm | delete
    That is another thing I wish I had done, saved the pictures I took when doing the listing. It was years ago, and I do believe they're not even in my husband's old computer that we all used at one time. Sad...but I have since learned to keep at least pictures of the things I like a lot.
  • Reply
    Moonwalk Feb 20, 2011 @ 2:36 pm | delete
    "Did Man Really Walk on the Moon?"
    Is internet a reality or just an illusion?

    Well, Neil Armstrong has made history. One of the legends. Sadly, nobody remembers other brave men who also walked on the moon.
  • Reply
    Ron Jul 2, 2010 @ 10:41 pm | delete
    I have seen the videos from people who say that the landing was a fake. I don't believe it, however I do think that there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes that we don't know about.
    This is an excellent lens and I can see why you closed the bids and I would have too.
  • Reply
    4U2C May 24, 2010 @ 8:53 am | delete
    Love this Lens. My husband and I just devour anything about outer space - real or imagined, or "weird". Enjoy this one, thoroughly!
  • Reply
    eclecticeducation Mar 24, 2010 @ 10:38 pm | delete
    Great lens! Neil Armstrong is a great American hero. Blessed by an Angel.
  • Reply
    happynutritionist Mar 25, 2010 @ 12:32 am | delete
    Thank you so much, appreciate your comment and the angel blessing:-)
  • Reply
    OhMe Feb 19, 2010 @ 3:41 am | delete
    Your story of the letter from Neil Armstrong is so interesting. I remember watching the moon landing on an old black and white TV. I thoroughly enjoy this. Thank you.
  • Reply
    happynutritionist Jun 14, 2009 @ 6:33 pm | delete
    Thanks everyone, for your replies. Susan, I was working at summer camp and watched the moon landing standing around a camper with a lot of others on a little black and white television set. It was an amazing thing to see.

    Seagreen, you wrote your post a while back...if you find your way back here, I bet those slides would sell nicely now that the new movie has been out.
  • Reply
    Susan52 Jun 13, 2009 @ 6:41 am | delete
    How very interesting! I'll never forget watching Neil Armstrong on the moon. I lived in Ohio at the time, so the historic event was even a little more special since he was from our state. I think you did the right thing by ending the auction, by the way. It was worth it! Great lens!
  • Reply
    seegreen Dec 10, 2008 @ 12:40 pm | delete
    I enjoyed your lens. My mother-in-law found some old slides that were taken on the set of the original star trek series which are wonderful. She asked me to help her sell them, but we never have. I often wonder if some of the cast would want them. There are slides of people hamming it up for the camera, others have been taken of the set and cast while working. These sorts of finds are really wonderful. I think you did the right thing cancelling the ebay listing.
  • Reply
    dasia bellamy Mar 16, 2008 @ 10:06 pm | delete
    i wish he would come 2 mi school 1 day
  • Reply
    Billco Feb 15, 2008 @ 10:04 am | delete
    That was a great find at the estate sale. Neil Armstrong hasn't signed autographs in years. The value of his signature keeps rising.
  • Reply
    Marc Sep 21, 2007 @ 8:15 pm | delete
    Love this lens. I was a kid back in 1969 and was totally enthralled with the race to the moon. I had a 'space program' of my own going on with Estes model rockets landing on the neighbors houses and lawns.
    I Hope Neil Armstrong loosens up and gives the world his own version of the 1rst moon landing
Show All
Loading

by

happynutritionist

Follow me on Twitter
Find me on Facebook
I'm a Squid Angel
Share your Lenses here
AND here too to
make $ and get links to your pages here
and elsewhere.

Here's... more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

Explore related pages

Top 10 Space Shuttle Models 

Loading

The Life of Neil Armstrong 

First Man on the Moon

First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong

First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong

by: James R. Hansen

Amazon Price: $2.98 (as of 02/17/2012)Buy Now

"On July 20, 1969, a quiet, determined man from Wapakoneta, Ohio, stepped out of his fragile spacecraft and into history."

Related Tags