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1960–1969
Reaching for the Sky
The 1960s began with Camelot and ended with Vietnam. It was a tumultuous decade that included the Beatles and construction of the Berlin Wall, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and the Concorde's first test flight.
In 1962, the first office building was completed at 3M Center in St. Paul, Minn., the company's new world headquarters.
Spurred by the idea that products developed to fit local needs would be most successful, 3M continued to expand international operations. The company's first research laboratory outside the United States opened in Harlow, England, in 1963.
There were other milestones. After 60 years with the company, William L. McKnight retired and was named Chairman Emeritus. The Carlton Society was created to honor outstanding technical employees. It was named for a former 3M President, Richard P. Carlton, who, in 1921, was hired as the company's first technical employee to hold a college degree.
 In 1969, U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong walked on the moon wearing space boots with soles made of synthetic material from 3M. The company stood at the threshold of new growth.
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