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Under Pressure

July 21, 1969

Memphians were so rapt by Apollo 11’s moon landing that, for seven minutes, water pressure rose so high from lack of usage MLGW was forced to shut down all five main pumping stations.

Main Street in Memphis was nearly empty at 3:18 p.m. Central Time on July 20, 1969, when man landed on the moon. The caption that appeared in the July 21, 1969, paper with this photo read, "From Memphis to Vietnam, the world just seemed to quieten down. Millions held their breath as another chapter of history was beamed from a frail craft more than 240,000 miles away." (Vernon Matthews/The Commercial Appeal)

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center