CASE STUDY
NASA RESTORATION OF MISSION CONTROL CENTER
Johnson Space Center (JSC) is restoring its Apollo Mission Control Center (MCC) NHL back to its appearance during the moon landings. In 2014, the NPS expressed concerns about the NHL’s future, resulting in a partnership formed among JSC, the non-profit Space Center Houston (SCH), and the City of Webster,Texas, with support from the ACHP, the Texas SHPO, NPS, the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP), and retired Apollo Program flight directors to restore the Apollo MCC to its late 1960s appearance.The restoration will be carried out with the aid of a historic furnishings report prepared by the NPS. Section 106 consultation in April 2017 resulted in a no adverse effect determination with concurrence from all consulting parties. Execution of the project has been enabled by the fundraising efforts of SCH (an affiliate of the Smithsonian), with a significant donation from the City of Webster, which seeks to promote heritage tourism in the area. Because NASA is prohibited by law from accepting private funds, the cost of the restoration is through a transfer of funds from SCH to the ACHP, which does have the authority to accept donations of money, equipment, and other resources from public and private parties to assist federal agencies in the preservation of their historic properties.This authority came about through 1976 amendments to the NHPA and was further extended in 2003 by President George W. Bush, as part of the Preserve America EO.The NASA award is the first such use of the authority and highlights the benefits and opportunities available through public-private partnerships.The ACHP hopes to encourage more such usage of this donations authority in the future.
Apollo Operations Mission Control Room, Johnson Space Center 1969, Houston,TX (photos courtesy NASA)
IN A SPIRIT OF STEWARDSHIP: A REPORT ON FEDERAL HISTORIC PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 2018 | 37
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