DOWNEY – Downey’s Columbia Memorial Space Center exhibits relating to space science education and Downey’s rich aerospace history are now universally accessible to the world thanks to a partnership with Google. Google and the City of Downey hosted an official launch of this digital exhibit on the Google Cultural Institute last Thursday, with special guest Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, in attendance.

“Our Columbia Memorial Space Center is a very special place here in our community and has played a meaningful role in our city’s history,” said Mayor Fernando Vasquez. “With this new Google exhibit, not only are we embracing the use of technology, but we are reaching out to people all over the country, even the world.”

The Columbia Memorial Space Center joined Google’s special exhibits on the Cultural Institute, bringing together digitized information on Downey’s aerospace history, preserved NASA artifacts, aspects of remembrance for the Space Shuttle Columbia, and educational areas, including the Challenger Learning Center spaceflight simulator.

“We are excited for this new partnership with the Google Cultural Institute and are proud to share Downey’s rich aerospace history with audiences around the world,” said Councilman Alex Saab, who led the program. “Our sincere thank you to Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard and representatives from Google for joining us to help launch this new and exciting exhibit at Downey’s Columbia Memorial Space Center.”

Google’s Cultural Institute is an online platform for cultural and historical institutions where partners can present high-resolution images and authoritative information about their collections and exhibitions.

The site currently supports nearly 400 partners from 54 different countries.

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Published: Aug. 14, 2014 - Volume 13 - Issue 18