Star Trek: The Exhibit at the St. Louis Science Center

From Examiner.com: Star Trek: The Exhibit at the St. Louis Science Center
Gene Roddenberry’s vision of Star Fleet, the future incarnation of NASA*, has been the subject of a series of books, a series of movies and a whole series of TV series. Now his vision is being expressed as an exhibit at the St. Louis Science Center that hopes to inspire the ‘next generation’ while offering a satisfying dose of nostalgia to Trekkies.

The exhibit is loaded with familiar props and costumes from all the TV shows and films. In fact, it’s the largest collection of Star Trek props and artifacts ever collected for public display.

You’ll begin your visit by sitting in Captain James T. Kirk’s iconic chair from the original series. Thumb through original screenplays and study artists’ concept drawings for the series. Then move on to see filming models of the Enterprise and other starships; tribbles; Romulan pistols; Vulcan robes; Seven of Nine’s formfitting uniform; communicators; Klingon swords and dictionaries. Some of the items are marked ‘replica’ but don’t be disappointed. All of them were made by the original set builders, model makers and prop builders, at the same time as the ones that appeared onscreen. If the item displayed never appeared onscreen, the exhibitors have opted for the ‘replica’ label.

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One wall of the exhibit is covered by a giant timeline that puts the events of the series and films in order and dates them. This piece of the exhibit will be especially fascinating to diehard fans, as it orders such political, interplanetary and personal events as the birth of Captain Janeway, first contact with the Borg and the Q, the Cardassians’ abandonment of Deep Space Nine, and the marriage of Dax and Worf.

The heart of the exhibit is the starship bridge from the set of the Next Generation series. The set is completely interactive — you can sit in Captain Picard’s chair, take the helm, or launch the photon torpedos, as you choose. Bring some friends and act out your favorite scenes.

There are more full-size, interactive exhibits in store for you beyond the bridge. You’ll be able to step onto the transporter pad with your away team, or visit the Holodeck and enjoy the movie magic of green-screen technology.

In the Planetarium, a new Space Show has been designed to accompany the exhibition. The new Space Show, Seeking New Earths, explores the real knowledge of planets orbiting other stars and where current space exploration is inthe hunt for these planets and the possibility of life elsewhere in the Universe.

Other special programming includes Star Trek First Fridays. Visitors are invited to come in costume and enjoy special science-fiction themed activities and demonstrations throughout the Science Center.

Friday, November. 4, 2011: Star Trek costume contest
Friday, December 2, 2011: Special guest Star Trek makeup artist Jeff Lewis
Friday, January 6, 2012: Star Trek trivia contest
Friday, February 3, 2012: Special guest Robert Picardo from Star Trek: Voyager
The exhibit will be at the Science Center from October 28, 2011 until May 28, 2012.

Tickets are $17.50 for adults, $15.50 for seniors and college students with an ID and $13.50 for children and members of the military. Science Center Members receive half-price tickets. Tickets and more information at slsc.org

Information on related programs at the Science Center will be available at boldlygoexplore.org