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In this photo taken Sept. 7, 1973, Phil Redden, curator of the seven-year-old Alaska Transportation Museum, walks through debris the day after a fire destroyed about a half million dollars worth of aviation history and mementoes in Anchorage, Alaska. Mo Anchorage Daily News, Alice Puster) THE MAT-SU VALLEY FRONTIERSMAN OUT, Associated Press
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In this undated photo provided by attorney by Daniel P. Harris, pieces of moon rock and an Alaska flag from the 1969 Apollo 11 mission presented to the state by President Richard Nixon are shown encased in acrylic glass. Alaska officials are contesting a Courtesy Daniel P. Harris, Associated Press
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In this Dec. 3, 1969 photo provided by of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, President Richard Nixon presents Moon rocks to then Governor of Alaska Keith Mille, right, as Pat Nixon, second left, and Diana Miller look on at the Governors Conference in Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Robert L. Knudsen, Associated Press
By Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The mystery of Alaska's missing moon rocks has been solved. Getting them back to a state museum likely will depend on a judge.

Alaska officials are contesting a lawsuit filed by a former resident who claims he rescued the moon rocks from a garbage heap 38 years ago after a museum fire. Arthur C. Anderson, who goes by Coleman Anderson, sued in December for formal title to the rocks.

State officials contend the moon rocks were illegally taken from the Alaska Transportation Museum following the suspected arson fire in September 1973. They have filed a counterclaim seeking return of the rocks.

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The moon rocks were brought to Earth in July 1969 on Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing. President Nixon presented each state and 136 countries with moon rocks.

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