Artist
Neil A. Armstrong(American, 1930–2012)American, 1930–2012
Printer
Dennis Ivy (American, born 1953)American, born 1953
CultureAmerican
Titles
- Mission: Apollo-Saturn 11, July 16–24, 1969
- This mission achieved the first landing on the Moon. The picture depicts Neil Armstrong’s boot and the print left after the first step on the lunar surface. The crew members were Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr., and Michael Collins.
- from the portfolio NASA: A Quarter Century of Space Exploration
DateJuly 16–24, 1969, printed 1991
Place depictedMoon
MediumDye imbibition print
DimensionsImage: 16 × 16 5/16 in. (40.7 × 41.4 cm)
Sheet: 18 7/8 × 18 1/8 in. (48 × 46 cm)
Mat: 26 × 21 15/16 in. (66 × 55.8 cm)
Sheet: 18 7/8 × 18 1/8 in. (48 × 46 cm)
Mat: 26 × 21 15/16 in. (66 × 55.8 cm)
Credit LineThe Target Collection of American Photography, museum purchase funded by Target Stores
Object number93.199.9
Not on view
Explore Further
Department
PhotographySpecial Collections
Object Type
years after President John F. Kennedy’s challenge to send U.S. astronauts to the
moon, the crew of Apollo 11 climbed down the ladder of the Eagle, the lunar
module, to the moon’s surface. Both Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. “Buzz”
Aldrin, Jr., discovered that being on the moon and moving in one-sixth gravity was
an exhilarating experience. Aldrin described himself as “buoyant and full of
goose pimples.” Because the moon’s surface is fine and powdery, both Aldrin and
Armstrong were able to leave clear footprints, which Armstrong recorded in
several photographs.
Provenance[Robert Mann Gallery, New York]; purchased by MFAH, 1993.
Exhibition History"Quest for the Moon and Other Stories: Four Decades of Astronauts in Space," Shell and the American Landscape Museum, Houston, March 6–May 29, 2001.
The Moon: 'Houston, Tranquility Base Here. The Eagle Has Landed'," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, September 27, 2009–January 10, 2010.
"Shooting the Moon: Photographs from the Museum's Collection 50 Years after Apollo 11," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, July 20–September 2, 2019.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Inscription: Inscribed in black ink, lower left corner below image: "29/1000", lower right corner below image: "# 9"
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.
Neil A. Armstrong
July 16–24, 1969, printed 1991
Dye imbibition print
93.199.10
Charles M. Duke, Jr.
April 16–27, 1972, printed 1991
Dye imbibition print
93.199.16
Michael Collins
July 16–24, 1969, printed 1991
Dye imbibition print
93.199.11
Alan B. Shepard, Jr.
January 31–February 9, 1971, printed 1991
Dye imbibition print
93.199.26
William A. Anders
December 21–27, 1968, printed 1991
Dye imbibition print
93.199.25
David R. Scott
March 3–13, 1969, printed 1991
Dye imbibition print
93.199.8
Alan B. Shepard, Jr.
January 31– February 9, 1971, printed 1991
Dye imbibition print
93.199.15
Edgar D. Mitchell
January 31– February 9, 1971, printed 1991
Dye imbibition print
93.199.14
Charles P. "Pete" Conrad
November 14–24, 1969, printed 1991
Dye imbibition print
93.199.12
Russell L. Schweickart
March 3–13, 1969, printed 1991
Dye imbibition print
93.199.7
Eugene A. Cernan
December 7–19, 1972, printed 1991
Dye imbibition print
93.199.17