22 Amazing Photos to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing

By Megan Cahn September 12, 2019

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anniversaries

Do you remember where you were at 4:17 in the afternoon on July 20, 1969? At this moment the Apollo 11 Lunar Module Eagle touched down on the surface of moon while people watched in awe from living rooms, pubs, even airports across the entire world.

The famous words Neil Armstrong spoke after taking the first step have been etched in our collective brains ever since — even if we didn’t witness them. Now 50 years later, it remains one of the most historic days in American history. So in honor of this semicentennial, we’ve gathered some epic photos of the amazing event in space and all the excitement that surrounded it here on earth.

Scroll down for our favorite photos in honor of the 1969 Man on the Moon mission 50 years later.

Apollo 3

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What a class portrait! The three astronauts of Apollo 11, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Jr., posed for a picture before their ground-breaking mission.
Apollo 18

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Neil Armstrong was all smiles at his moon landing "dress rehearsal."
Apollo 7

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People gathered en masse at Cape Kennedy, Florida to witness the historic take-off in person.
Apollo 2

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It must have been a bit of a wait, so this spectator decided to take a little snooze before blast-off, but we're sure he was wide awake for the main event!
Apollo 4

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So many little kids looked up to the three astronauts — and this Apollo 11 game let them pretend to be them!
Apollo 10

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This sign at a Houston, Texas shopping mall honored the Apollo 11 mission and the three brave astronauts.
Apollo 22

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Even people across the pond were excited! A bar in Birmingham, England actually changed its name to the Man on the Moon Pub ahead of the occasion.
Apollo 23

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See their new astronaut sign and the crowds gathering to watch the Eagle every step of the way.
Apollo 24

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Buzz Aldrin's wife, kids, and friends watched the moon mission via live TV transmission in the living room of their Texas home. Can you even imagine their nerves!
Apollo 6

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Buzz's kids, Janice, Michael, and Andrew, give a thumbs-up after watching their dad blast off. They must've been so proud!
Apollo 13

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Did you know that Neil Armstrong actually said, "This is one small step for a man," when he first walked on the moon. The 'a' must have been muffled, and we couldn't imagine it any other way.
Apollo 5

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Buzz Aldrin walking on the moon on July 20, 1969.
Apollo 14

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Thousands of passengers and workers at JFK Airport stopped to watch the event. When the Eagle spacecraft touched down on the surface of the moon the crowd burst into joyous cheers!
Apollo 20

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The "Man on the Moon" made front-page headlines all over the world — here's a stack of Japanese papers all announcing the amazing news.
Apollo 8

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Here are people gathering in a park in Hong Kong to watch.
Apollo 25

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Check out the line at a general store in Massachusetts to get newspapers on that epic day.
Apollo 15

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A group of women and their kids in New York City ogle over the news.
Apollo 21

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Here's a shot heading home after successfully walking on the surface below.
Apollo 17

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Thousands of anxious people awaited the Eagle landing. It's said people screamed "Thank God! Thank God!" when it touched down safely.
Apollo 1

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After returning to earth, Armstrong, Collins and, Aldrin had to be quarantined — but they don't seem too upset by it! They even got a visit from an ecstatic President Nixon.
Apollo 16

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People cheered, held up 'Welcome Home' signs, and waved American Flags at a parade honoring the Apollo 11 crew in New York City after their safe return.
Apollo 11

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People proudly wore this pin to commemorate the epic event.