When the men who walked on the moon walked through Chicago
In August of 1969, Chicago welcomed Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. and Michael Collins to the city only a few weeks after their stop on the moon. Confetti cascaded down from skyscrapers in a ticker-tape parade and millions lined the streets of Chicago’s financial district to get a glimpse of the three Apollo 11 astronauts.
One small step for man was one giant celebration in Chicago.
See more of what that day looked like 57 years ago:
Model of the Apollo 11 spacecraft, showing its trajectory and flight path from Earth to the Moon, at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago on July 16, 1969.
Chicago Sun-Times archive
Crowds watch the Apollo 11 astronauts returning from the Moon at the Zenith television display salon at 200 N. Michigan Ave. on July 24, 1969.
Chicago Sun-Times archive
Views of people on State and Madison streets watching the Apollo 11 moon landing on televisions in a storefront window, an electronic ticker above Walgreen’s with news of the landing, and the moon in the sky next to Marina City towers in Chicago in July 1969.
Chicago Sun-Times archive
People on the street watch Apollo 11 moon landing on television in the Admiral showroom window at 635 N. Michigan Ave. on July 20, 1969.
Bob Black/Sun-Times archive
Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr., and Michael Collins arrive at O’Hare Airport with their families in Chicago, Aug. 13, 1969.
Jack Lenahan/Sun-Times archive
Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. and Michael Collins arrive at Meigs Field and prepare for their parade on Aug. 13, 1969.
Pete Peters/Sun-Times archive
A large crowd gathers at the Civic Center Plaza, 50 W. Washington St., for a welcome ceremony for the Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. and Michael Collins on Aug. 13, 1969.
Larry Graff/Sun-Times archive
People begin gathering at the Civic Center Plaza for the Apollo 11 crew welcome ceremony hosted by the Chicago City Council at 50 W. Washington St. on Aug. 13, 1969.
Hartland Klotz/Sun-Times archive
A parade goes through La Salle and Madison streets in the Loop on Aug. 13, 1969, for Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. and Michael Collins after their moon landing mission.
Jim Klepitsch/Sun-Times archive
A parade goes through Grant Park in Chicago on Aug. 13, 1969, for Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. and Michael Collins after their moon landing mission.
Duane Hall/Sun-Times archive
Apollo 11 astronauts Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr., Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins speak to the crowd and children as the parade to honor their moon landing mission goes through Grant Park in Chicago on Aug. 13, 1969.
Jack Lenahan/Sun-Times archive
People crowd on either side of State Street on Aug. 13, 1969, to watch as the Apollo 11 astronauts and their families parade through Chicago.
Larry Graff/Sun-Times archive
People crowd on either side of State Street on Aug. 13, 1969, to watch as the Apollo 11 astronauts and their families parade through Chicago.
Larry Graff/Sun-Times archive
People crowd on either side of Wacker Drive awaiting the parade for the Apollo 11 astronauts in Chicago on Aug. 13, 1969.
Don Burk/Sun-Times archive
A large crowd gathers at the Civic Center Plaza, 50 W. Washington St., for the Aug. 13, 1969, welcome ceremony for the Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. and Michael Collins.
Larry Graff/Sun-Times archive
Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. and Michael Collins wave from their motorcade during a parade in the Loop on Aug. 13, 1969, following their successful moon landing mission.
Duane Hall/Sun-Times archive
Apollo 11 astronauts (from left) Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr., Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins wave to the crowd as they ride through the Loop during an Aug. 13, 1969, parade to honor their moon landing mission.
Perry Riddle/Sun-Times archive
A parade goes through La Salle and Madison streets in the Loop on Aug. 13, 1969, for Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. and Michael Collins after their moon landing mission.
Jim Klepitsch/Sun-Times archive
A parade goes through La Salle and Madison streets in the Loop on Aug. 13, 1969, for Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. and Michael Collins after their moon landing mission.
Jim Klepitsch/Sun-Times archive
People crowd on either side of State Street to watch as the Apollo 11 astronauts and their families parade through the Loop on Aug. 13 1969.
Larry Graff/Sun-Times archive
Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. and Michael Collins wave from their motorcade during a parade in the Loop on Aug. 13, 1969, following their successful moon landing mission.
Duane Hall/Sun-Times archive
Apollo 11 astronauts (from left) Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr., Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins wave to the crowd as they ride down State Street during an Aug. 13, 1969, parade to honor their moon landing mission.
Duane Hall/Sun-Times archive
Apollo 11 astronauts (from left) Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr., Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins wave to the crowd as they ride down State Street during an Aug. 13, 1969, parade to honor their moon landing mission.
Duane Hall/Sun-Times archive
A parade goes through La Salle and Madison streets in the Loop on Aug. 13, 1969, for Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. and Michael Collins after their moon landing mission.
Jim Klepitsch/Sun-Times archive
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