Sedona, AZ — Popular historian Kevin Schindler, who is the historian and public information officer at Lowell Observatory, will be the next speaker at the Sedona Heritage Museum’s Sedona Stories series. Schindler’s talk is called “(Mother) Road to the Stars: The Space Heritage of Route 66.” This program will take place on Thursday, October 8, at 10 am in the historic Apple Shed at the Museum.
Route 66 is one of the most storied roadways in North America, known for its roadside diners, historic hotels and kitschy attractions. But it also boasts an extraordinary space heritage; along its course lies the birthplaces of space pioneers, centers of planetary exploration and discovery, training grounds for Moon-bound astronauts, the best-preserved asteroid impact site in the world, site of a famous UFO siting, and museums celebrating these cosmic connections. In honor of the upcoming centennial of Route 66, Lowell educators will lead a virtual trip along the Mother Road and explore this space heritage.
Route 66 had an enormous impact on the development of Sedona in the middle part of the 20th Century. Schindler’s talk coincides with the 100th Anniversary of Route 66.
Schindler has authored nine books, including the recently released Robert Goddard’s Massachusetts, and contributes a bi-weekly astronomy column, “View from Mars Hill,” for the Arizona Daily Sun newspaper. In May 2023, he served as Astronomer in Residence at the Grand Canyon and he was just awarded the Copper Quill Award by the Friends of the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library.
Sedona Stories is a monthly program of the Sedona Heritage Museum. It is usually held at 10 am on the second Thursday of every month.
The Sedona Historical Society operates the Sedona Heritage Museum located in Jordan Historical Park, 735 Jordan Road in Uptown Sedona, Arizona. Open daily 11 am – 3 pm. For more information call 928-282-7038 or visit www.sedonamuseum.org.