Colorado's 'lost' moon rocks found

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DENVER, June 2 (UPI) -- Moon rocks presented to Colorado that went missing for 35 years have been located in the home of a former governor, authorities said.

The rocks brought back by the Apollo 17 mission and presented to Colorado in January 1974 are hanging in the home office of former Gov. John D. Vanderhoof, The Denver Post reported Wednesday.

Vanderhoof, 88, said he moved the set into his home when he left office in 1975.

"I didn't even know it was anything to have," Vanderhoof said. "It's just memories of old stuff I had."

President Nixon presented rocks collected by the Apollo missions to all 50 states, the Post said.

Vanderhoof said over the years he tried to interest museums or schools in accepting the rocks.

"I offered them to museums and colleges; nobody got excited about it," Vanderhoof said.

A spokesman for Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter said the governor was happy to have the missing rocks located.

"Thank goodness the decades-old case of the missing moon rocks has finally been solved," Evan Dreyer said. "We'll work with appropriate parties to determine how they will be displayed."