At a Glance

• A U.S. Air Force pilot donated $400,000 to preserve Neil Armstrong’s childhood home in Ohio.
• The Auglaize County Historical Society is set to take ownership of the property.
• The house could open for public tours by 2030, marking 100 years since Armstrong’s birth.
• The restoration aims to recreate the home’s appearance during Armstrong’s childhood.

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Neil Armstrong’s childhood home in Wapakoneta, Ohio, is set to be preserved after former military fighter pilot Ken Schreiber donated $400,000 to help the Auglaize County Historical Society acquire the property.

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Key Statements and Focus Area

• Donor: “I just thought somebody has got to step up to the plate. It was almost like the ghost of Neil Armstrong was there. I could imagine him running up and down the stairs.” — Ken Schreiber, former U.S. Air Force pilot
• Historical preservation: “Even now when this opportunity came our way, we realized we can't do it ourselves.” — Gerald Siesel, president of the Auglaize County Historical Society, describing the challenge of restoring and maintaining the property.
• Preserving the home: "I felt responsible for protecting the house’s history and wanted to keep it like the Armstrongs had as much as possible, so it could inspire future generations." — Karen Mikesell, the former owner

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Historical Society to Restore Armstrong’s Childhood Home

The sale of the two-story house at 601 West Benton Street is scheduled to be finalized on Monday. Schreiber’s donation will allow the local historical society to take ownership and begin planning restoration work.

The property has attracted visitors interested in Armstrong’s early life, particularly those visiting the nearby Armstrong Air and Space Museum. However, the house has never been open to the public.

Gerald Siesel, president of the historical society, said the organization has begun researching the home’s appearance in the 1940s and discussing fundraising with community leaders. The society aims to complete the work in time for the first public tours in 2030.

Former Owner Hoped to Preserve the Property

Karen Mikesell, a retired history teacher, purchased the house in 1988 and owned it for decades before putting it on the market in August. She hosted nine astronauts at the property over the years, including Aldrin.

Mikesell recalled that Aldrin visited Armstrong’s former bedroom several years after Armstrong died in 2012 and became emotional. She hoped a buyer would come forward to protect the house and preserve its connection to the moon landing.

Schreiber said Armstrong had long been a source of admiration because of his achievements and character. After learning the home was for sale and that no one had committed to preserving it, he initially asked friends to contribute before deciding to provide the full $400,000 himself.

The Home Where Armstrong Developed His Interest in Flight

Armstrong lived in the house during a formative period of his childhood. He built model airplanes in the dining room and constructed a wind tunnel in the basement to test them.

While living in the area, he made his first solo flight and earned his pilot’s license at age 16. He later became a naval aviator and test pilot before joining NASA’s astronaut program.

On July 20, 1969, Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission, alongside fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Michael Collins remained in orbit around the moon in the command module.

FYI

Neil Armstrong was born on August 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio. Before becoming an astronaut, he served as a naval aviator and worked as a test pilot. He joined NASA in 1962 and commanded Apollo 11, the first crewed mission to land humans on the moon.

Armstrong died on August 25, 2012, at the age of 82. His childhood home and the nearby Armstrong Air and Space Museum are part of Wapakoneta’s connection to the history of space exploration.

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