COLUMBUS, Ohio — At the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, dozens of community members and veterans gathered on the rooftop to the view the total solar eclipse and to learn more about the historic phenomenon. 

What You Need To Know

  • The National Veterans Memorial and Museum hosted a rooftop viewing experience for the total solar eclipse 

  • The event not only focused on viewing the historic phenomenon but also was an opportunity for veterans and community members to learn about the solar eclipse

  • Attendees were able to learn from a NASA Solar System Ambassador

“It's really cool to be part of the community here in central Ohio and we have this wonderful rooftop. So something historic coming through. Even though we're not in 100% totality, it's pretty cool to be able to be a space in Columbus where people can come in and learn something about it and also watch the eclipse from here,” said Mason Farr, the museum's education and outreach manager.

Farr is also one of the staff members who helped plan the event. He made sure that along with viewing the eclipse from the museum’s rooftop, he also organized several hands-on activities and experiences for everyone to enjoy. 

“All three floors of the museum will have different programs going on and encourage people to kind of come in and out and explore the space,” Farr. 

From learning about the difference between NASA patches and military patches, to receiving free NASA-branded items and learning from a NASA ambassador herself, the aim was to make it a fun way to learn and experience a historic day. 

“This eclipse is pretty rare for this part of the country," said Marie Zahn, a volunteer NASA solar system ambassador. "Eclipses do happen a lot, but it's really exciting this year because so many people in North America are directly in the line. And we'll have this wonderful viewing opportunity."

Monday was so special for this museum to host a viewing event because of the relationship between NASA and the military, Zahn said.

“So the reason that we are doing things here today, not just because of our amazing rooftop viewing, but there's a very long history between NASA and the military," said Zahn. "So many astronauts and other dancer careers are really linked to different military careers as well."