July 20th celebrates the anniversary of Ohio native Neil Armstrong's historic moon walk

A July 20, 1969 photo shows astronaut Neil Armstrong reflected in the helmet visor of Buzz Aldrin on the surface of the moon. The astronauts had a camera mounted to the front of their suits, according to the Universities Space Research Association.
A July 20, 1969 photo shows astronaut Neil Armstrong reflected in the helmet visor of Buzz Aldrin on the surface of the moon. The astronauts had a camera mounted to the front of their suits, according to the Universities Space Research Association.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

On July 20th, 1969, Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong of Wapakoneta, Ohio, became the first person to walk on the moon. The day is now commemorated as National Moon Day or National Space Exploration Day.

Take a look back.

Astronauts Neil Armstrong , Michael Collins , and Buzz Aldrin , left to right, are pictured in this Apollo 11 crew portrait in 1969.
Astronauts Neil Armstrong , Michael Collins , and Buzz Aldrin , left to right, are pictured in this Apollo 11 crew portrait in 1969.
n this July 16, 1969 file photo, Neil Armstrong waving in front, heads for the van that will take the crew to the rocket for launch to the moon at Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Fla. Armstrong commanded the Apollo 11 spacecraft that landed on the moon July 20, 1969.
n this July 16, 1969 file photo, Neil Armstrong waving in front, heads for the van that will take the crew to the rocket for launch to the moon at Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Fla. Armstrong commanded the Apollo 11 spacecraft that landed on the moon July 20, 1969.
Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong on the moon with monitoring equipment and lunar lander Eagle in background.
Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong on the moon with monitoring equipment and lunar lander Eagle in background.
A July 20, 1969 file photo shows Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin, the first men to land on the moon, plant the U.S. flag on the lunar surface.  Photo was made by a 16mm movie camera inside the lunar module, shooting at one frame per second.
A July 20, 1969 file photo shows Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin, the first men to land on the moon, plant the U.S. flag on the lunar surface. Photo was made by a 16mm movie camera inside the lunar module, shooting at one frame per second.
This photograph of Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, Apollo 11 commander, was taken inside the Lunar Module while the LM rested on the lunar surface, July 20, 1969.  Astronauts Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module Pilot, had already completed their extravehicular activity when this picture was made.
This photograph of Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, Apollo 11 commander, was taken inside the Lunar Module while the LM rested on the lunar surface, July 20, 1969. Astronauts Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module Pilot, had already completed their extravehicular activity when this picture was made.
In this July 20, 1969 file photo, Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong, right, trudges across the surface of the moon leaving behind footprints.  The U.S. flag, planted on the surface by the astronauts, can be seen between Armstrong and the lunar module.  Edwin E. Aldrin is seen closer to the craft.  The men reported the surface of the moon was like soft sand and they left footprints several inches deep wherever they  walked.
Mrs. Jan Armstrong, wife of Apollo 11 flight commander, Neil Armstrong, chats with newsmen at their home near the Manned Spacecraft center, Houston, Tex., after the lunar module landed on the moon.
Mrs. Jan Armstrong, wife of Apollo 11 flight commander, Neil Armstrong, chats with newsmen at their home near the Manned Spacecraft center, Houston, Tex., after the lunar module landed on the moon.
In this July 21, 1969 file photo, Charles Brading, a druggist and personal friend of astronaut Neil Armstrong, checks the size and placing of a temporary sign addition proclaiming their local hero in Wapakoneta, Ohio. in 1969.
In this July 21, 1969 file photo, Charles Brading, a druggist and personal friend of astronaut Neil Armstrong, checks the size and placing of a temporary sign addition proclaiming their local hero in Wapakoneta, Ohio. in 1969.
Astronaut Neil Armstrong, right, is shown with his family  after arriving at his parents' home in Wapakoneta, Ohio, on his first trip home following his historic walk on the moon.  With him are, left to right, Stephen Armstrong, father, Neil's wife, Janet, his mother, and two children, Mark, left, 6, and Eric, 12.
Astronaut Neil Armstrong, right, is shown with his family after arriving at his parents' home in Wapakoneta, Ohio, on his first trip home following his historic walk on the moon. With him are, left to right, Stephen Armstrong, father, Neil's wife, Janet, his mother, and two children, Mark, left, 6, and Eric, 12.
A July 24, 1969, photo provided by the Richard Nixon Foundation shows Apollo XI astronauts, from left, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin laughing with President Richard Nixon aboard the USS Hornet. The president was on hand to greet the astronauts after their splashdown in the Pacific.
A July 24, 1969, photo provided by the Richard Nixon Foundation shows Apollo XI astronauts, from left, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin laughing with President Richard Nixon aboard the USS Hornet. The president was on hand to greet the astronauts after their splashdown in the Pacific.
The front page of the Wapakoneta Daily News, dated Sept. 6, 1969, is photographed at the Auglaize County Public Library archives seen in 2019 in Wapakoneta, Ohio. Neil Armstrong put Wapakoneta  on the map in July 1969 when he became the first human to walk on the moon.
The front page of the Wapakoneta Daily News, dated Sept. 6, 1969, is photographed at the Auglaize County Public Library archives seen in 2019 in Wapakoneta, Ohio. Neil Armstrong put Wapakoneta on the map in July 1969 when he became the first human to walk on the moon.
Space Center Houston visitor Lisa Marek and her son Marshall, 5, of New Ulm, Texas, study the Alan Bean mural Friday, July 15, 1994, in Houston, that depicts Neil Armstrong during the Apollo 11 mission to the moon.
Space Center Houston visitor Lisa Marek and her son Marshall, 5, of New Ulm, Texas, study the Alan Bean mural Friday, July 15, 1994, in Houston, that depicts Neil Armstrong during the Apollo 11 mission to the moon.
Visitors to Wapakoneta, Ohio are greeted by a sign, shown in 1994, proudly boasting the fact that the first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong, was a native son. Despite having left the city in 1947 to attend college, Neil Armstong's presence is still strongly felt in his Ohio birthplace.
Visitors to Wapakoneta, Ohio are greeted by a sign, shown in 1994, proudly boasting the fact that the first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong, was a native son. Despite having left the city in 1947 to attend college, Neil Armstong's presence is still strongly felt in his Ohio birthplace.
Pam Krites, Shirley Meiring, Mary Meiring, Cory Krites, 7, and Erica Molineaux, 9, from left, stake out their spots for a parade Saturday, July 9, 1994, in Wapakoneta, Ohio, to mark the 25th anniversary of Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon.
Pam Krites, Shirley Meiring, Mary Meiring, Cory Krites, 7, and Erica Molineaux, 9, from left, stake out their spots for a parade Saturday, July 9, 1994, in Wapakoneta, Ohio, to mark the 25th anniversary of Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon.
A high school yearbook owned by Herb Lunz is signed by Neil Armstong near Armstrong's photo, his quote reads, "Neil A. Armstrong, He thinks, he acts, 'tis done."
A high school yearbook owned by Herb Lunz is signed by Neil Armstong near Armstrong's photo, his quote reads, "Neil A. Armstrong, He thinks, he acts, 'tis done."
Patches adorn the spacesuit worm by astronaut Neil Armstrong for the Gemini VIII mission at the Armstrong Air & Space Museum, Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Wapakoneta, Ohio.  Neil Armstrong helped put Wapakoneta  on the map July 20, 1969, when he became the first human to walk on the moon.
Patches adorn the spacesuit worm by astronaut Neil Armstrong for the Gemini VIII mission at the Armstrong Air & Space Museum, Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Wapakoneta, Ohio. Neil Armstrong helped put Wapakoneta on the map July 20, 1969, when he became the first human to walk on the moon.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine takes his  grandchildren Steven Dudukovich, 6, and Jean Dudukovich, 8, to see the butter sculptures of astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins at the Ohio State Fair in 2019.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine takes his grandchildren Steven Dudukovich, 6, and Jean Dudukovich, 8, to see the butter sculptures of astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins at the Ohio State Fair in 2019.
Visitors gather around the Apollo 11 command module “Columbia” that carried astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins on their historic voyage to the Moon and back on July 16 to 24, 1969, at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012.
Visitors gather around the Apollo 11 command module “Columbia” that carried astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins on their historic voyage to the Moon and back on July 16 to 24, 1969, at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012.
In this June 1, 2012, Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, attends a graveside service for Wilbur Wright on the 100th anniversary of the burial of the powered flight pioneer in Dayton, Ohio. Armstrong passed away a few months later.
In this June 1, 2012, Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, attends a graveside service for Wilbur Wright on the 100th anniversary of the burial of the powered flight pioneer in Dayton, Ohio. Armstrong passed away a few months later.
After a group of current and former astronauts finished answering questions on stage, the large crowd that had gathered downtown tosses confetti in the air at 10:56pm, the exact time Neil Armstrong took the first steps on the moon 50 years prior during the Summer Moon Festival in Wapakoneta, Ohio on Sunday, July 21, 2019. Wapakoneta is the hometown of Armstrong and home to the Armstrong Air & Space Museum.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: A look back at Neil Armstrong historic moon walk photos