KEY Magazine Fort Worth

Major Exhibit and IMAX® Film bring Star Wars to Fort Worth
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Not long ago … and definitely not far away, Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, C-3PO and R2-D2 took up residence in our own galaxy at a new Earthly home: the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. The four popular characters – and other characters from the Star Wars film series – are featured in the Southwest’s only installation of the blockbuster exhibit, Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination.

Until September 3, fans of the Star Wars adventure series will have a rare opportunity to see more than 100 artifacts from all six Star Wars films –props such as Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder, Obi-Wan’s Lightsaber and Anakin’s prosthetic hand; costumes worn by the actors who portrayed Darth Vader, Chewbacca and Han Solo; and the film’s highly recognizable spacecrafts, including the Millennium Falcon and Queen Amidala’s Nubian Starship. Developed by Boston’s Museum of Science in collaboration with Lucasfilm Ltd., the 10,000-square-foot exhibit explores the fantasy technologies depicted in the Star Wars films, the real science behind them, and the current research that may someday lead to remarkable real-life versions of the technologies seen in the films.

“Technology is changing by the minute,” says Van A. Romans, president of the Museum. “We are thrilled to give the people of Texas and the Southwest an opportunity to visit this exhibit and experience some amazing innovations first-hand. Creativity, imagination and science come together in a remarkable way in the Star Wars films and this exhibit reflects that synergy beautifully. It is sure to inspire us all.”

Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination will help visitors gain a better understanding of technology and the role imagination and creativity play in developing technologies. It also illustrates how close we are to having technologies like the fantasy versions of the Star Wars universe. In addition to dozens of artifacts from the Star Wars films, the exhibit includes video interviews with filmmakers, scientists, engineers, and a collection of interactive hands-on components that pose engineering challenges for users. In an area of the exhibit titled “Getting Around,” visitors can see how vehicles move without touching the ground, and compare the fantasy vehicles of Star Wars to real-world examples, such as maglev trains. Visitors can then use LEGOs® and magnets to create their own maglev – magnetic levitation – vehicle. Museum guests can even experience the sensation of levitation by riding on a personal hovercraft.

In a second main exhibit area titled “Robots and People,” C-3PO and R2-D2 are displayed alongside real-world robots that can navigate through, sense and understand the world around them while communicating in increasingly sophisticated ways. One hands-on station allows users to program robots to display human emotions, while another activity area offers visitors the opportunity to design their own robot, then program it to walk through obstacles in a droid factory.

The Star Wars films took movie watchers to alien worlds with harsh deserts, underwater cities and dense forests. Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination looks at some of those environments and how they shaped the look of the films’ characters: Wookiees from Kashyyyk; Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin and Yoda from Coruscant; a snowtrooper from Hoth; and Jawa from Tatooine. More importantly, they demonstrate how people on Earth adapt according to their own surroundings.

Visitors can enhance their experience with a hand-held multimedia tour that combines audio, video and still images not seen anywhere else in the exhibit. Users can further extend their experience by “bookmarking” exhibit content and e-mailing it to themselves. The multimedia tour – which includes American Sign Language interpretation and closed-captioning options – costs $5, but is free to hearing and/or visually impaired visitors.

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Tickets to Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors 60+ and children 3-12. Advance ticket reservations are recommended and tickets may be purchased online at www.fortworthmuseum.org or by calling 817-255-9540. Museum members can purchase tickets for the exhibit at a special rate of $4 for adults, seniors and children.

Through September 3, the Museum’s Omni Theater is also featuring Special Effects on its giant IMAX® screen in conjunction with the Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination exhibit. The film, nominated for an Academy Award in 1997, features eye-popping visual effects from the Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition – and from Jumanji and Independence Day – as it follows the innovative effects wizardry that goes into blockbuster movies.

For advance Omni Theater tickets, call 817-255-9540. 1501 Montgomery Street, Fort Worth.

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