On Thursday, Columbus State University’s Coca Cola Space Science Center received three new artifacts from the collection of David Scott, Commander of the Apollo 15 mission to the Moon. The items - which were donated by David’s brother and Columbus resident, Tom Scott - will go on permanent display to commemorate and celebrate space missions of the past. The gift comes right in time for the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, with artifacts spanning the entirety of the Apollo program from the first man to the last man to walk the moon.

“We are very excited to place these unique artifacts on display for the Columbus community, and very grateful to Tom Scott for making this possible.” said Dr. Shawn Cruzen, Director of the Space Science Center. “He has been a tremendous supporter of both our facility improvements and public programs at the Space Science Center.”

Among the items are a 1971 proclamation signed by President Richard Nixon, which designates July 20 as National Moon Walk Day. Scott received the proclamation as an astronaut from NASA in honor of man’s first walk on the moon in 1969. Another new artifact for display is a book called Earth Resources Synopsis, which is signed by Scott. This book is a rare internal resource produced and written for NASA employees explaining the differences between aeronautical and astronomical photography and science.

Rounding out the artifacts is a photo collage related to the final Apollo mission, Apollo 17, and signed by Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon. Included in this item are three commemorative pieces commissioned by NASA and made from metal salvaged from the space components that had flown to the moon. This includes a replica of Cernan’s footprint from the moon.

The new items will be added to the Apollo 15 display in the Center by Saturday, which is considered National Moon Walk Day in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 flight where man first walked on the moon. On Saturday, the Center will also hold multiple events in honor of the anniversary, including a live telecast of the tributes from Cape Canaveral, Florida at the Kennedy Space Center. The public is invited.