The last stop took us to the Franklin
Institute and a galaxy far, far away ....
Could cars that hover above ground be the mass
transit of the future? Will we ever have droids like C-3PO in
real life? Fantasy and reality join forces in Star Wars:
Where Science Meets Imagination, coming February 9 - May 4, 2008
at The Franklin Institute. This 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 one day make the fantasy world of
Star Wars a reality.
Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination invites
visitors into a unique, immersive exhibit environment where they
will be absorbed in hands-on experiences to discover how robots
and landspeeders exist in the world of Star Wars, and
learn about the important roles that imagination and science
play in the creation of increasingly sophisticated machines. In
two large Engineering Design labs, visitors get to use the
knowledge gained in the exhibit to create and test their own
speeders and robots. May the Force be with you!
So here's Philadelphia's Franklin Institute
all dolled up for a Star Wars exhibit. Say, what's the
deal with the steps?
Oh, I get it. You have to step on Darth
Vader's face to get in.
There's Bill with a storm trooper. But what's the deal with the storm trooper's mask, anyway?
He doesn't look like a REAL storm trooper.
That's Peg with a REAL storm trooper.
There's Bill again, and this time a REAL storm trooper.
That's Darth Vader with the Philly Phanatic!
Bill found a Jawa.
The exhibit was filled with the actual models
used in the movies. There's Porkins in an X-Wing.
Or maybe it was Luke himself. That sure
does look like Artoo stuck in the top.
Luke's land speeder. Wonder what he ran
into?
Luke's ride was a mess.
Hey, it isn't just a movie prop! This
thing has controls!
Don't stand back here when Luke's burning
rubber.
You mean it's NOT the real thing?
There's little Ani's pod racer.
Don't stand here when Little Ani's burning
rubber.
Anakin and Obi Wan costumes.
That looks like the Millennium Falcon!
It is! It is the Millennium Falcon!
Han Solo and Chewbacca costumes.
Yoda and a Mace Windu costume, along with that
nasty little sphere from the first movie.
This is where the Wookies live.
Princess Leia's costume
Artoo! Is it really you?
And C 3PO too?
Yep, it's them all right. Look, sir.
Droids.
Here's what Threepio looks like with skin.
And here's what he looks like without.
There were lots of robots in Star Wars
Some were pretty stupid.
Hey, that's one of those big battle thingys.
Oh, yeah, I recognize these from the Battle of
Hoth. Big and mean-looking, but practical? I don't
think so. Wrap a cable around those legs and see what
happens.
I think that's Anakin and Obi-Wan again.
Oooh, look. It's a real size Jawa and a
pint size sand crawler robot collector garbage truck thingy.
It's little Ani! I hate that kid.
Mr. and Mrs. Tusk N. Raider
Ve haff vays to mek you talk, Princess.
Lose a limb? No problem with this guy
around.
Robots.
An elegant weapon from a more civilized age.
Oooh...a double-bladed light saber.
Don't lean on the glass.
You might get fried.
Jango's son sure didn't learn to take care of
his weapon. Kids.
Hah hah, a Stormtrooper blaster. Like it
ever hit anything.
Yeah, I'm talkin' about you.
Hey, it's the big guy.
The original costume from the first movie.
The inner helmets for the fellow who was more
machine than man. Ooooohhhh.
Blockade runner. I know that because
this is one placard I can read.
And that's a Naboo Royal Starship.
And that's the backside of a blockade runner.
The models are impressively detailed.
Is that the Imperial warship from the first
scene of the first movie? I think it is.
But it seemed physically a lot longer in the
movie.
Looks kinda stubby from this angle.
Still, I wouldn't want to get in its way.
Padme's costume
That's a Wampa. He's bad. And
cold, too.
Here's a stormtrooper from Hoth. I
think.
A tie fighter.
And here's the star of the show again.
Still terrifying after all these years.
We had a fine time in Philadelphia. If
you're a dyed-in-the-wool Star Wars fan and you don't live too
far from Philadelphia, like Gumby or even Anne, I'd say it's
worth a day trip, especially if you eat a cheesesteak at Pat's.
Oh, go on. Do it. You know you want to.
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