Space Collectibles Show gives you a chance to own a piece of space history
Understandably, the Space Coast overflows with memorabilia and collectibles of America’s journey to space.
Almost everyone around here has saved some treasured space-related item, from a a newspaper story on the Moon landing to a LEGO model of the space shuttle. We treasure the pins, patches, models, toys, postal covers and art that bring back memories of past achievements up in the skies.
The U.S. Space Force Historical Foundation is offering the opportunity to add to these collections - and take a look at a unique museum - when it hosts the eighth annual Space Collectibles Show and Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 12, at the Sands Space History Center outside Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
“We have the event to raise awareness of the Space Force Museum at Cape Canaveral,” said Historical Foundation executive assistant Sharon Rodriguez.
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The Sands Space History Center is part of a museum complex that includes Launch Complex 26, the Air Force Space and Missile Museum and the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse. Sands Space History Center is the only part of the complex to be located outside the Space Force Station, so no access pass is required.
The Center was named for Major General Harry Sands, Jr., who first floated the idea of a Space Force Station-based museum dedicated to space history.
The History Center contains information and displays for each launch complex at the Station, as well as exhibits on pop space culture icons such as Marvin the Martian, currently celebrating his 75th birthday since he first appeared in the 1948 Looney Tunes cartoon “Haredevil Hare.”
“He’s a favorite of many of our volunteers,” Rodriguez said.
Also special to the 100 volunteers at the museum is Rupert the Space Armadillo, who will be making a special appearance at the collectible show with stickers, pins and selfie photo ops. According to the Foundation’s official Rupert bio, the intrepid plush toy “wants to be the first armadillo to escape the surly bonds of Earth’s gravity.”
Rupert is based on real-life critters at the Space Force Station. “Armadillos live all over the Cape, and we had one in particular that kept returning to Complex 26,” Rodriguez said.
Twenty-four tables will tempt with a wide range of space memorabilia and artifacts, including mission patches, postal covers, challenge coins, books, videos and vintage toys.
Torie Lazaro, known for the Netflix series “Space Dealers”, will have a collection of space items from her adventures. Ken Havekotte of Space Coast Cover Services, a well known space appraiser, has a large variety of publications, patches and postal covers. Andy Sokol of TurboFox Photography will showcase air and space imagery.
World-class collectibles, space history, Marvin and Rupert the Space Armadillo make for a great family outing, made even better by the fact that admission is free.
If you go
Space Collectibles Show and Sale
Where: The Sands Space History Center, 100 Spaceport Way. The center is located outside the main gate of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at the end of State Road 401 on the north side of Port Canaveral.
When: Saturday, Aug. 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission: Free
Info: 321-698-5854
On the web: ccspacemuseum.org
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: U.S. Space Force Historical Foundation hosts collectible show, sale
