Reaching for the Stars: John and Annie Glenn Museum Love and Life Story
In New Concord, Ohio, lies the roots of a heroic American life that reached the heavens. The John and Annie Glenn Museum is set to open to the public for the 2024 season on Wednesday, May 1. Hope Neal, the assistant director of the museum, shared with Fox News Digital that this is where John Glenn spent his formative years. Although Glenn was born in 1921 in Cambridge, Ohio, he spent most of his youth in this picturesque home in New Concord, which embodies the essence of the American heartland.
John Glenn, a future U.S. Marine Corps pilot and astronaut, moved to New Concord at the age of two with his parents, John Herschel and Clara Glenn. His father ran a plumbing business in the town, and the family resided in this home until John was about 20 years old, when he joined the military. The museum provides a unique experience where period actors welcome guests into the house as if they were old friends visiting the Glenn family. Visitors have the opportunity to witness the place where John’s dreams of aviation took flight, eventually leading him to become the first American to venture into space.
Glenn’s remarkable journey began when he enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 20, following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He went on to become one of America’s greatest fighter pilots, flying numerous combat missions in both World War II and the Korean War. Throughout his illustrious career, Glenn crossed paths with legends like Hall of Fame baseball player Ted Williams, who described him as “absolutely fearless” and “the best I ever saw.”
As a test pilot, Glenn was selected as one of NASA’s first astronauts in 1959. On February 20, 1962, he etched his name in history by becoming the first American to orbit the Earth, a pivotal moment in human exploration and the Cold War space race. Beyond his space exploits, Glenn served Ohio as a U.S. senator for 25 years.
The museum not only commemorates John Glenn’s achievements but also celebrates the enduring love story between him and his wife, Annie Glenn. The couple’s bond began in New Concord, where they first met as toddlers. Their parents were friends, and as children, John and Annie shared a playpen during family gatherings. They tied the knot in 1943 while John was serving as a young Marine in World War II, and their love story lasted for 73 years.
The John and Annie Glenn Museum encapsulates not only the remarkable accomplishments of an American hero but also the profound love and enduring legacy of a devoted couple who shared a lifetime of adventures together.