One small step for man, one giant step for South Carolina. In April 1972 (read: 50 years ago), Charlie Duke from Lancaster, SC became the 10th — and youngest — person to walk on the moon.

Along with fellow astronaut John Young, Duke spent more than 20 hours on the moon during the Apollo 16 mission. In addition to collecting samples and performing scientific tasks, he also rode on the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) and attempted to set a lunar high jump record. A true South Carolinian, he also became the first person to eat grits in space.

The Apollo 16 crew: Ken Mattingly, John Young, and Charlie Duke. | Photo provided by SC State Museum, courtesy of NASA

This month, the South Carolina State Museum is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 16 mission and Charlie Duke’s historic walk on the moon with a new exhibition, Apollo 16 & Beyond: South Carolina in Space.

The Apollo celebration will officially begin on Sat. April 9, 2022. Note: The museum will be closed on Sun., April 17 for Easter.*