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Flashback: Apollo 11 Ticker Tape Parade
By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 13, 2009
Modified Aug 13, 2009
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 13, 2009
Modified Aug 13, 2009
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Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. August 13th, 1969.
The folks at Inside the Apple remind us that today is the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 ticker tape parade (following the moon landing on July 20th, 1969). The parade was for for Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins, and "at the time, many claimed it was the largest ticker tape parade New York had ever seen. Though they note this claim is impossible to verify, there were around 4 million in attendance.
The astronauts were first handed the key to the city, and then paraded up Broadway from Bowling Green Park to Herald Square, with the NY Times noting that the confetti was “so dense that the astronauts could hardly see.” While the route was a long one, they started at 10:17 a.m. and were at JFK airport by 1:15 p.m.!
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apollo 11
astronauts
broadway
moon
ticker tape parade
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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