Neil Armstrong, celebrated as the first human to set foot on the moon, harbored a clandestine collection of mementos from his historic Apollo 11 mission for over four decades. Following his passing in 2012, his wife, Carol Armstrong, stumbled upon a concealed white cloth bag tucked away in a wardrobe while sorting through his personal effects. This bag, later identified as the McDivitt Purse, contained a trove of artifacts that were originally intended to be abandoned on the lunar surface.
The Discovery and Donation to the Smithsonian
Carol Armstrong, uncertain of the items' significance, reached out to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. She provided a photograph of the bag and its contents spread out on her carpet, prompting immediate excitement from museum curators. Alan Needdell, the curator at the time, described the find as an unparalleled thrill for a space artifact expert. He enlisted a team of specialists, including Eric Jones and Ken Glover, to authenticate the objects through the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal, confirming their authenticity as flown aboard the Lunar Module Eagle during the 1969 mission.
Contents of the McDivitt Purse
The bag held nearly 20 items, each with a unique story from the Apollo 11 journey. Among the most notable artifacts were:
- A 16mm movie camera that captured the iconic descent to the moon's surface and the planting of the American flag, considered extremely valuable.
- A Crewman Optical Alignment Sight mirror device used for docking maneuvers in space.
- Helmet straps and tools essential for the astronauts' safety and operations.
- A cover for the pressurized waste management system, highlighting the mundane yet critical aspects of space travel.
- Other miscellaneous items such as power cables, utility clamps, and a waist tether.
Armstrong had casually referred to the purse as "just a bunch of trash that we want to take back" in discussions with fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin, downplaying its historical importance.
Exhibition and Historical Significance
The Smithsonian gratefully accepted the donation, and the artifacts are now on public display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. This exhibition allows visitors to connect personally with the Apollo 11 mission, moving beyond textbooks and films to appreciate the tangible engineering and human effort involved. Needdell emphasized that seeing these items firsthand helps underscore that space exploration achievements are rooted in real people and meticulous planning.
The discovery sheds new light on Armstrong's private side, revealing a sentimental streak hidden behind his public persona. It also adds a layer of intrigue to the Apollo 11 legacy, as these items were quietly preserved rather than discarded as planned. The museum continues to document and catalog the collection, with hopes to expand public access in the future.
