'Star Trek' exhibition opens at Omaha museum
Julien R. Fielding
"Star Trek" hit the airwaves in 1966.
A variety of "Star Trek" memorabilia is on display in "Star
Trek: Federation Science," such as tricorders. Visitors also can see
Geordi's visor and the uniforms of Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, Captain James T. Kirk,
Guinan, Worf and various aliens.
Initially deemed "too cerebral" by studio executives, the series
soon found a strong following with those who enjoyed the camaraderie, science
fiction gadgets and stories that addressed difficult issues of the time.
Canceled in 1969, that might have been the end of this science fiction
universe, if not for the perseverance of creator Gene Roddenberry.
Ten years later, he took his Starfleet crew into the cinema house with
"Star Trek: The Motion Picture."
A franchise was born.
More movies were made, then another leap into TV land hit in 1987 with
"Star Trek: The Next Generation." "Star Trek: Deep Space
Nine" and "Star Trek Voyager" followed.
"Enterprise" - which takes fans into a new dimension, 100 years
before Captain Kirk ever set foot on the bridge - premiered Sept. 26 giving UPN
its best ratings since "Voyager" debuted in 1995.
Staff photos/Julien R. Fielding "Star Trek: Federation Science"
also includes a display of personal phasers. The exhibit is one part popular
culture and two parts hands-on educational tool.
According to a recent poll, 53 percent of Americans consider themselves
"Star Trek" fans. Approximately 99 percent recognize the show's name.
"Star Trek is one of the most popular all-time grossing cult phenomenons
that we all grew up with," said Randall Hayes, executive director of the
Durham Western Heritage Museum.
Phrases such as "beam me up," "engage" and "quapla"
are practically a part of the American vernacular.
But a die-hard Trekker only can experience so much sitting in front of a
television screen or in the movieplex. What if he or she could walk on the
bridge, stand in sick bay or watch as he or she were beamed to another planet?
That's exactly what Durham Western Heritage Museum's latest exhibition
"Star Trek: Federation Science" lets a person do.
"Trekkies get to fly the U.S.S. Enterprise," Hayes said.
A $1 million hands-on exhibit, designed and built by the Oregon Museum of
Science and Industry in conjunction with Paramount Pictures, allows visitors to
experience areas on the U.S.S. Enterprise firsthand, while learning about the
real science behind "Star Trek."
"It's like Dick Tracy's television wristwatch," Hayes said.
"Then it was fiction, now it's reality."
A recent documentary on the "Star Trek" phenomenon illustrated how
much an influence the show has had: Modern cell phones resemble early
communicators, Palm Pilots look like tricorders. Even scientists have spent time
wrestling with the concept of warp drive.
It is reported that about 75 percent of those polled from the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration were influenced by the series to go into
space. Even the Dalai Lama and physicist Stephen Hawking claim to be avid
followers.
Bringing the exhibition to Omaha has been several years in the making.
"We sent out marketing surveys and found out that people wanted science
(exhibitions), but no one was doing it - the technology," Hayes said.
"This exhibition is good science, and kids come in droves. It makes
learning fun."
To let educators know what they could expect from the exhibit, educational
staff at the museum mailed out packets last spring.
The response was overwhelming. Seventy percent of the number of school tours
booked here last year already are booked for just this one show this year, Hayes
said.
"Teachers can bring in a class of 25 students, then position them at
different stations to learn about science," he said. "Schools love it.
They can apply the principles they teach in the classroom. This puts it into
context."
"(The exhibition) illustrates so many great concepts," said Deborah
O'Donnell, director of programming. "We are so thrilled to have this. It's
interdisciplinary, offering great science concepts, history, language arts ...
it's a great educational tool. And everybody knows 'Star Trek.' Everyone can
relate to it."
With about 40 modular exhibits and display areas, occupying approximately
4,000 square feet, the exhibition features a representation of the bridge, with
a 120-inch-view screen, computer stations and 3-D space viewers; engineering,
with an exploration of antimatter, warp drive and gravity; transporter room, in
which visitors can be part of an away team; and sick bay, where visitors can
manipulate a model of a basic biological system and use a "Propaq"
unit to measure pulse, blood oxygen levels and electrocardiogram.
Because of Paramount's involvement, the sights and sounds are authentic.
Majel Barrett gives voice to the computers and video programs are presented by
Patrick Stewart, Gates McFadden, Brett Spiner and LeVar Burton.
Fans of the show can see costumes worn by Michael Dorn, Whoopi Goldberg,
Patrick Stewart and William Shatner, as well as examine original tricorders,
phasers, Geordi's visor, costumes and makeup heads used by Michael Westmore.
It's one part popular culture and two parts educational experience.
About four months ago in Virginia, Hayes said he got a preview of the show
and the response the museum could expect. "It was wall-to-wall," he
said.
With 100 pieces packed in 85 crates and transported in five semi-trailers,
"Star Trek: Federation Science" is the largest show the museum has
undertaken. "It's very complex," he said. "And (it) takes a lot
of daily maintenance."
Thus far the most popular exhibition at Durham has been
"Dinosaurs," which brought about 120,000 visitors.
Hayes is positive "Star Trek" will top those numbers.
Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m.
Sundays. Admission is $5; seniors and children less than 12 are $3.50. The
museum is at Ninth and Leavenworth Street in Omaha. For more information, call
444-5071.
'Star Trek' exhibition opens at Omaha museum was originally published in Daily Nonpareil on 4 October,
2001. © Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil LLC
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