Commander Spock and Captain James T. Kirk, played by Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner, pictured here in the original series in 1968/ Wikimedia Commons
Dedicated Star Trek fans and amused admirers alike will find something to love at the Skirball Cultural Center’s new exhibit, “Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds.” Organized by the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) in Seattle, Washington, the public display takes visitors on a voyage through more than a half century of Star Trek history, from costumes worn by the original cast all the way through to artifacts from “Star Trek: Discovery.”
Highlights include concept art for the Enterprise bridge (ca. 1964), the Enterprise bridge console (1966-1969), and the U.S.S. Enterprise filming miniature from “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (1987-1994). The exhibition also features plenty of immersive experiences, including the opportunity to create an episode of Star Trek, the chance to be beamed away, and the rare privilege of sitting in a model of the coveted captain’s chair.
A model of the Star Trek Captain’s Chair/ Photo by Tanja M. Laden
Not only will visitors have the chance to come face-to-face with objects from the Star Trek franchise, but they’ll also be taught little-known fun facts throughout the exhibit. For instance, did you know that Lucille Ball is actually the one ultimately responsible for bringing Star Trek to viewers? Evidently, CBS rejected the show and NBC was on the verge of rejecting it, too. But when the Desilu Productions board called a vote to cancel Star Trek after the pilot, board chairwoman Lucille Ball cast the deciding vote in favor of continuing production, and the rest is TV history.
“Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds” is on view at the Skirball Cultural Center from October 7, 2021 to February 20, 2022.
