John Glenn Centennial Celebration
July 16-18, 2021
Join us as we commemorate Astronaut, Senator and native son, John H. Glenn Jr.’s life and accomplishments on July 16-18, 2021 in two Southeast Ohio communities, Cambridge and New Concord, Ohio.
John Glenn was born in Cambridge and raised in New Concord. Our two communities are collaborating in recognition of what would be his 100th birthday on July 18, 2021. A weekend full of events is planned. For more about his life click here.
The John & Annie Glenn Heritage Trail brochure depicting the life of John and Annie and their families is available at the Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau (627 Wheeling Ave., Cambridge, OH 43725) the John & Annie Glenn Museum (72 W Main St., New Concord, OH 43762) and the Zanesville-Muskingum County Convention & Visitors Bureau )205 N 5th St, Zanesville, OH 43701). The brochure can also be downloaded here.
July 16, 2021
- 9a-4p- John & Annie Glenn Photo and Art Exhibit, including rediscovered photos of the 1962 John Glenn homecoming parade. Primary parking is at the New Concord Methodist Church-Muskingum University Palmer Art Gallery Layton Dr hilltop, New Concord
- 10am-4pm- Living History Tours at the John & Annie Glenn Museum. Adults: $7.00; Seniors:$6.00; Students: $3.00; Children under 6:FREE-John & Annie Glenn Museum 72 W Main St, New Concord
- 7pm-Ohio Space Shuttle Astronaut Don Thomas Presentation-Sponsored by Muskingum University and the Guernsey County Public Library-Big Pavilion, Cambridge City Park 1203 N 8th St, Cambridge
July 17, 2021
- 8am –Friendship 7-Miler Race from Cambridge to New Concord Grand Marshal Ohio State Representative Adam Holmes (register here) –Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center 7033 Glenn Hwy, Cambridge
- 9am-4pm-John & Annie Glenn Photo and Art Exhibit, including rediscovered photos of the 1962 John Glenn homecoming parade. Primary parking is at the New Concord Methodist Church-Muskingum University Palmer Art Gallery Layton Dr hilltop, New Concord
- 10am-4pm- Free Walk-Through Tours-John & Annie Glenn Museum (souvenirs & lemonade sold in front of the museum)-John & Annie Glenn Museum 72 W Main St, New Concord
- 10am-4pm-John Glenn’s 1964 Corvair Monza Convertible will be on display-New Concord Elementary School Parking Lot 4 Stormont St, New Concord
- 10am-4:30pm-WACO Biplane Ride, $200 for a 2-person ride. The father-son WACO biplane ride John took here at age 8 hooked him on flying-Cambridge Municipal Airport 9732 Brick Church Rd, Cambridge
- 10-10:45am-Historical Walking Tour of New Concord-Harry Harman (who created the tour) will lead-Tour Starts at John & Annie Glenn Museum
72 W Main St, New Concord
- 10am-1pm-Westminster Presbyterian-10:45-11am-Music Program “A Song of Peace” & “God Bless America”. 17 N. Liberty St., New Concord (John Glenn’s Family Church)
- 10am-4pm-Free admission William Rainey Harper Cabin Museum –New Concord 20 W Main St, New Concord
- 10-10:45am- Interview with Alice George, author of The Last American Hero: The Remarkable Life of John Glenn-New Concord Elementary School Gymnasium 4 Stormont St, New Concord
- 10-11:30am-Activities for kids Old-Fashioned games, Launch Pop Bottle Rockets, Parachute, Sack Race & Ring Toss–New Concord Elementary School Park 4 Stormont St, New Concord
- 10:30am-Pre-Parade Program – Emceed by Mayor Tom Orr, Speakers: Lyn Glenn (daughter of Annie and John Glenn); OH US Representative, Bill, Johnson; OH Representative Adam Homes; Astronaut Don Thomas; OH Senator Tim Schaffer; Former OH US Representative Zack Space-Guernsey County Courthouse 801 Wheeling Ave, Cambridge
- 11am-Friendship 7-Mile Parade from Cambridge to New Concord with Grand Marshal Ohio Astronaut Don Thomas(Click here to fill out form to participate)
- 11-11:45am –Eleanor O’Rangers – presentation on “Mercury Astronaut Training”-New Concord Elementary School Gymnasium 4 Stormont St, New Concord
- 11am-3pm-WMCO 90.7 FM – remote broadcast will announce Parade, Post- Parade Program, Muskingum Valley Symphonic Wind and Don Thomas’ presentation-New Concord Elementary School Park 4 Stormont St, New Concord. Click here to listen.
- 12pm-WACO Biplane flyover in New Concord.
- 12:30-1:30pm-Post-Parade Program- Speakers: US Senator Sherrod Brown; Connie Schultz, Author; Dr. Sue Hasseler, President of Muskingum University; Dr. Barb Hansen, Executive Director for John & Annie Glenn Museum; Dave Adams, Superintendent of East Muskingum Local School District; Dr. Trevor Brown, Dean of the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University; Lyn Glenn (daughter of Annie and John Glenn)–New Concord Elementary Pavilion 4 Stormont St, New Concord
- 1pm-Rocket Car Rides, $10 per person for a 10-minute circuit ride around New Concord-In front of John & Annie Glenn Museum-72 W Main St, New Concord
- 1-3pm-COSI on Wheels (the first 100 children will receive a COSI Mini Kit with one science activity)-Times for Demonstration about Space 1pm, 1:45pm, 2:30pm–New Concord Elementary School Park 4 Stormont St, New Concord
- 1:30-2pm-The Muskingum Valley Symphonic Winds will present a concert titled “John Glenn, An American Hero” to commemorate the life and legacy of John Glenn as part of the centennial celebration of his birth. The concert will include musical works that are centered around the life of John Glenn. The cornerstone of the program will include excerpts from Ryan Nowlin’s “Godspeed, John Glenn”, a work commissioned by Muskingum University as a memorial to John Glenn after his passing. Click here for the complete program. New Concord Elementary School Pavilion 4 Stormont St, New Concord
- 2-3pm-Ohio Astronaut Don Thomas Presentation-Sponsored by Muskingum University-New Concord Elementary School Gymnasium 4 Stormont St, New Concord
- 3-3:30pm-NASA’s historic 1963 film “The John Glenn Story”–New Concord Elementary School Gymnasium 4 Stormont St, New Concord
- 3:30-4:30pm-Author panel – discussion and Q&A about Glenn history and what his flight meant to America, Jeff Shesol: “Mercury Rising: John Glenn, John Kennedy, and the New Battleground of the Cold War,” Alice George: “The Last American Hero: The Remarkable Life of John Glenn” and Don Thomas: “Orbit of Discovery: The All-Ohio Space Shuttle Mission.”-New Concord Elementary School Gymnasium 4 Stormont St, New Concord
- 4:30-5pm-NASA’s historic 1963 film “The John” Glenn Story–New Concord Elementary School Gymnasium 4 Stormont St, New Concord
- 7-7:45pm-“Mercury Rising” author Jeff Shesol-Area Agency on Aging Region 9—-710 Wheeling Ave, Cambridge
- 7:45-8pm-Meet-and-greet with astronaut Don Thomas, filmmaker Jackson Tyler, author Jeff Shesol, and historian Eleanor O’Rangers–Area Agency on Aging Region 9—-710 Wheeling Ave, Cambridge
- 8-10:45pm-Project Mercury documentary film presented by Jackson Tyler, filmmaker–Area Agency on Aging Region 9—-710 Wheeling Ave, Cambridge
**Shuttles are available in New Concord 10:45am-5pm**
Rocket Car WACO Biplane
July 18, 2021
- 9am-4pm-John & Annie Glenn Photo and Art Exhibit, including rediscovered photos of the 1962 John Glenn homecoming parade. Primary parking is at the New Concord Methodist Church.-Muskingum University Palmer Art Gallery Layton Dr hilltop, New Concord
- 1-4pm-Free Walk-Through Tours at the John & Annie Glenn Museum and a Birthday Treat while they last. Also showing the historic 1962 NASA film “Friendship 7” in the Classroom 1pm & 3pm-John & Annie Glenn Museum 72 W Main St, New Concord
- 2pm- NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke will offer a virtual Zoom appearance. https://www.nasa.gov/…/biographies/edward-michael-fincke–John & Annie Glenn Museum 72 W Main St, New Concord
July Events:
- A “Savor the Flavor” John Glenn Food Trail will be offered throughout the month of July. Click here
- Guernsey County Public Library New Release Book Club July 3, 2021 11am. Join the book club to read The Last American Hero: The Remarkable Life of John Glenn by Alice L. George in honor of John Glenn’s 100th birthday! Register here to receive the Zoom information
- In recognition the John Glenn Centennial Celebration, Area Agency on Aging Region 9 of Guernsey will display 3 paintings, in their window, by local artist, Sue Dodd, June – August: Childhood Home of John Glenn, Hometown Hero and Medal of Honor.
- Cambridge/Guernsey County Tourist Information Center (627 Wheeling Ave, Cambridge) will display a private collection by Matt Dole of John Glenn and space memorabilia throughout the month of July.
Learn about an American hero and a native son with these fun coloring pages about the life of John Glenn. John was born in Cambridge, Ohio and moved to New Concord, Ohio when he was two. He took is first plane ride in a WACO Bi-Plan in Cambridge when he was 8 years old, where is love for aviation began. He attended Muskingum College (now University) and became a Naval fighter pilot. In 1962 he became the first American to orbit the earth. At age 77, he went back up into space. He was also a U. S. Senator and dedicated his life to public service. Click here.
JOHN GLENN CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION SPONSORS:
PLATINUM ($2,000 and above)
· Muskingum University
· Muskingum Valley Health Center
· Ohio Humanities Council
GOLD ($1,000-$1,999)
· CT Consultants
· Park National Bank
· SE Ohio Regional Medical Center
SILVER ($500-$999)
· Adams Family Foundation
· Farus Funeral Home
· John Glenn High School Alumni
· New Concord Area Board of Trade
· Rainy Day Writers
· Genesis Healthcare System
· New Concord Area Board of Trade inc.
· AMG Vanadium
BRONZE ($100-$499)
· Richard Booth
· Cedar Ridge Behavioral Health Solutions
· The Community Bank
· Tom Davey
· Guernsey County Historical Society
· Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative
· Guernsey Veterans Charity Fund
· Kiwanis Club Of Cambridge
· Daniel and Jen Navicky
· Peoples Bank
· Julia Swan
· Thorn-Black Funeral Home
· Zemba Brothers
· Mindy Eltringham
· Bettina Brown
FRIENDS (Under $100)
· Riesbecks Food Markets
· Cambridge Lyons Club
SPECIAL THANK YOUS
· AVC Communications
· Cambridge/Guernsey County VCB
· City of Cambridge
· East Muskingum School District
· John & Annie Glenn Museum
· Carol Goff & Associates
· Hampton Inn
· Holiday Inn Express
· John Glenn Cross-Country Track & Field
· Kimble Companies
· Marty Kurtz
· Cambridge Main Street
· Muskingum County Community Foundation
· Ohio Mid-Eastern Government Assoc. (OMEGA)
· Orbit Media-WMCO 90.7 FM
· Glenn Schuck-1010 WINS AM
· Tourism Ohio
· Village of New Concord
· Zanesville Muskingum CO CVB
· City of Zanesville
· Muskingum University
· Muskingum University John & Annie Glenn Fellows
· JET Auto Group
· Cambridge Amateur Radio Assoc. (CARA)
· New Concord Area Arts &Recreation District (NCARD)
· Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)
· Zemba Bros., Inc.
To help support our three-day educational, fun family event, please click here.