Decades ago, I had an SBIR contract with NASA, the contract monitor being in Huntsville. After I briefed him, I went to see the Saturn V. At that time, it was resting horizontal on a long concrete pad. The briefing went really well, and I was in good spirits.
So there was no barrier between the vehicle and visitors. You could walk up and touch it, which I did. Then I walked to the engine end of the first stage and climbed up between two of the F1 engines. I was able to climb into the center F1 and stand up at the end of the expansion bell.
I didn't even come up to the center of the bell. It drove home the titanic size of the machine in a way that nothing else had.
I had to climb down when a moderately pissed-off guard saw me after a few minutes. It was a wonderful experience.
It's the US Space and Rocket Center for anyone looking it up. The vertical rocket is a replica. The sideways one is real, or mostly real. It's suspended pretty high up so you can walk below it. They host a weekly Oktoberfest event under it for a few months a year. In addition to the museum, they also give bus tours of NASA MSFC.
There's a planetarium nearby with a cool history made from the dome of an oxygen tank. UAH has a special collections room dedicated to the Apollo program. There are some other rockets on the side of the interstate near the outskirts to let you know you're entering rocket city.
If you plan carefully, you can see everything in a day.
So there was no barrier between the vehicle and visitors. You could walk up and touch it, which I did. Then I walked to the engine end of the first stage and climbed up between two of the F1 engines. I was able to climb into the center F1 and stand up at the end of the expansion bell.
I didn't even come up to the center of the bell. It drove home the titanic size of the machine in a way that nothing else had.
I had to climb down when a moderately pissed-off guard saw me after a few minutes. It was a wonderful experience.