COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio birthplace of John Glenn celebrated its place in history on Thursday with a new historical marker commemorating the late astronaut and U.S. senator.
The unveiling in Cambridge, where Glenn was born July 18, 1921, is among efforts to honor the famous aviator’s legacy since his death in December at age 95.
The mayor, officials at the local convention and visitors’ bureau, and a graduate student researching Glenn collaborated on the project.
Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth and served 24 years as a Democrat in the Senate.
An effort had failed to have his Cambridge home listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Officials said the National Park Service considered his home in nearby New Concord, beginning at age 2, “most suitable” because it’s where Glenn lived during a historically significant period in this life.
The John & Annie Glenn Museum is located in New Concord and also collaborated on the Cambridge marker project.
The museum encompasses Glenn’s childhood home in New Concord, which was placed on a list of state historic sites in August 2016. Pending state legislation calls for a marker to be placed there as well.
The childhood home of Glenn’s wife of 73 years, Annie Castor Glenn, also is in New Concord. It was for private sale last month after having gone into foreclosure.
