Philadelphia fans of STAR WARS are in luck: On February 9, the city’s Franklin Institute will open an exhibit called “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination.” Highlights include live displays of sabre battles and other scenes from the films. The 10,000 square-foot exhibit will include over 100 Star Wars artifacts and 21 interactive exhibits. Visitors will also see real-world technology that parallels the science-fiction seen in STAR WARS, including star ship prototypes and task-oriented robots. A full-size replica of the Millennium Falcon cockpick will offer a multi-media presentation of a journey through the Universe, courtesy of images from the Hubble space telescope. Read the complete press release for the event below the fold.
PRESS RELEASE FROM FRANKLIN INSTITUTE:
Tickets for the Philadelphia debut of the “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination” exhibition at The Franklin are now available for public purchase in preparation for the February 9 opening. The exhibit will be on display at The Franklin through May 4, 2008.
Opening day activities on February 9 will include a dramatic display by Star Wars Stormtroopers, as well as a museum filled with costumed characters enacting light saber battles and other movie scenes, trivia contacts and photo opportunities with some of your favorite characters from the movies.
Developed by Boston’s Museum of Science in collaboration with Lucasfilm Ltd., the 10,000 square-foot exhibit features over 100 Star Wars and real world artifacts and 21 innovative interactive exhibits that explore the fantasy technologies depicted in the Star Wars films, including Luke’s original landspeeder from Episode IV alongside scale models of X- and Y-wing starfighters and TIE fighters.
Visitors will also see an original Yoda puppet from the classic trilogy and Darth Vader’s actual helmet from Episode III.
With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), presented by Bose Corporation and locally sponsored by PECO, “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination” is the first exhibition to showcase costumes and props from all six Star Wars films, while exploring cutting-edge research and modern technologies that could someday make the fantasy world of Star Wars a reality.
As an added feature, experience a full-size cockpit replica of Episode IV’s Millennium Falcon!
Take your seat in the Millennium Falcon exhibit, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by a universe of sounds: beeping cockpit instruments, the roar of passing spaceships and comets, and the voices of your shipmates. Visitors watch a multimedia presentation featuring imagery from the Hubble space telescope that explores what we know about our own galaxy in a breathtaking journey to the edge of the Universe.
Featuring a proprietary sound system from Bose Corporation, the recreated cockpit debuts the technologies of 3Space™ audio systems, providing visitors with a realistic three-dimensional audio experience.
TICKET INFORMATION
“Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination” ticket pricing at The Franklin follows:
Single Tickets
- Adults: $20.50
- Seniors: $16.50
- Children ages 4-11: $15.50
- Members: $3
- Millennium Falcon tickets: $5 per person
- Special evening rates (Wednesday – Saturday) for adults: $10.50 and for Children/Seniors: $9.50.
Tickets are timed and dated, with admission beginning at 9 a.m. daily. Last entry on Monday and Tuesday is 5:00pm, Wednesday through Saturday is 8:00pm, and Sunday is 7:00pm. Advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended. All pricing includes admission to Star Wars and Sci-Pass Admission to The Franklin.
THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE
Founded in honor of America’s first scientist, Benjamin Franklin, The Franklin Institute is a renowned and innovative leader in the field of science and technology learning, as well as a dynamic center of activity. It is dedicated to creating a passion for science by offering new and exciting access to science and technology in ways that would dazzle and delight its namesake.
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