A Shared Memory of Gene Shoemaker and The Crater…

Eugene Shoemaker, image courtesy Barringer Crater Co.

The Crater, and the incredible scientists studying it, create powerful impressions for so many over the years! This was memory was kindly shared recently by a visitor named Rick:

“In the fall of 1971, I was a freshman at Caltech. Dr Shoemaker and a cohort who taught history combined their efforts to offer a unique class for freshmen which combined aspects of science and history.

As part of the course, we did a field trip to your crater in late 1971. I was in the geology vehicle with Gene when we pulled into the visitor's center at the crater. I had no idea how important the work he had done on the crater's creation was. He was so down to earth and open to connection even with freshmen that I thought of him as both a professor and a friend.

As the vehicle came to a stop, I saw several people running toward us from the visitor's center. They were delighted to see Shoemaker. That was my first inkling how lucky I was to be in that class! My experience with Gene and that field trip is one of my fondest memories of Caltech.”