Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination
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Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination is a traveling exhibition created by the Museum of Science, Boston, featuring props and costumes used in the Star Wars films, but focusing primarily on the science behind George Lucas' science fiction-fantasy epic. Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination was developed by Boston's Museum of Science, in collaboration with Lucasfilm Ltd., with the support of the National Science Foundation, under Grant No. 0307875. This exhibit is presented nationally by Bose Corporation.
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[edit] Props and costumes
The exhibit includes an impressive number of props, costumes and models, including the Yoda puppet, C-3P0, "Naked" C-3P0, R2-D2, the Chewbacca costume, the three-section Darth Vader helmet from Revenge of the Sith, as well as models of the X-wing, Millennium Falcon and many others. There are also costumes for Mace Windu, Princess Leia, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and the stormtroopers, and lightsabers belonging to Luke, Obi-Wan, Darth Maul and Count Dooku, among a great many other costumes, props and models.
[edit] Features
The exhibit includes a reproduction of the Millennium Falcon's cockpit, which features a four-and-a-half minute experience about real-world space exploration, particularly the unmanned exploration of the farther planets of our solar system, and the hundreds of exoplanets that have been discovered. The experience is narrated by Anthony Daniels, who played C-3PO, and with a few added effects in the cockpit (rumbling seats, fans, and lights) is meant to simulate the appearance of actually traveling through space and looking out the cockpit viewscreen.
The primary focus of the exhibit is the introduction of modern science and technology through the lens of Star Wars. Topics ranging from space travel, mechanical prosthetics, robotics, and levitation technology such as is seen in hovercrafts and Maglev trains are addressed through hands-on activities and volunteer demonstrations.
There is also a multimedia tour which uses a PDA to provide not only audio content, but also video and still images, adding to the visitor's experience. The PDA has a "bookmark" feature, that allows visitors to email special features of the exhibit to their email address. The exhibition also includes a number of documentary videos about the technology of Star Wars and the comparison of real-world technology to that of the Star Wars universe.
George Lucas was the guest of honor at the Museum of Science's Grand Opening Gala; Anthony Daniels was the master of ceremonies.
[edit] Tour schedule
- Museum of Science, Boston, Massachusetts - October 27, 2005 - April 30, 2006
- COSI Columbus, Columbus, Ohio - June 3, 2006 - September 4, 2006
- Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland, Oregon - October 11, 2006 - January 1, 2007
- California Science Center, Los Angeles, California - February 11, 2007 - April 29, 2007
- Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Fort Worth, Texas - June 9, 2007 - September 3, 2007
- Museum of Science and Industry (MSI), Chicago, Illinois - October 5, 2007 - January 6, 2008
- Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - February 2008 through May 4, 2008
- Science Museum of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota - June 13, 2008 - August 24, 2008
[edit] External links
- Official Exhibition Site: Science Museum of Minnesota (St. Paul) at www.smm.org/starwars
- Official Exhibition Site: Museum of Science, Boston at www.mos.org/starwars
- Official Exhibition Site: COSI (Columbus) at www.cosi.org/starwars
- Official Exhibition Site: OMSI (Portland) at www.omsi.edu/starwars
- Official Exhibition Site: California Science Center (Los Angeles) at www.californiasciencecenter.org
- Official Exhibition Site: FWMSH (Fort Worth) at www.fwmuseum.org
- Official Exhibition Site: Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago) at www.msichicago.org
- Official Exhibition Site: The Franklin Institute Science Museum at www2.fi.edu