DAYTON, Ohio -- It’s the last opportunity for visitors of all ages to experience an adventure unlike any other as the free, hands-on, retro-futuristic experience titled Steampunk: A Fantastical Hands-On Adventure will be open for just three more weeks, through Dec. 10, at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
Steampunk is a movement and an aesthetic inspired by the Victorian ideals of industry and steam power. Often featuring retro-futuristic inventions, it has become a form of artistic expression and an educational tool that teaches ingenuity, collaboration, and self-reliance. Discover Steampunk: A Fantastical Hands-On Adventure comes directly out of this movement to bring STEAM education (science, technology, engineering, art and math) to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
Created by Imagine Exhibitions, Inc. and made possible by generous support from CenterPoint Energy through its partnership with the Air Force Museum Foundation*, Steampunk: A Fantastical Hands-On Adventure allows visitors to explore galleries devoted to Verne, Wells, and five other innovators of the late 1800s, while experimenting with more than 20 original, interactive machines inspired by their ideas. The gorgeous, intricate machines appear to have come out of the past and teach about innovation and the disciplines of STEAM education.
Each gallery features interactive areas with learning opportunities related to each featured visionary. These interactives work both for groups and individuals and feature high levels of STEAM content and interactivity. In addition, the exhibition excites visitors to pursue their passions and work together to create a better future for all of us.
Located in the museum’s 4th Building, Steampunk: A Fantastical Hands-On Adventure is free to all visitors and will be open during regular museum hours of 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily through Dec. 10. (Visitors should note that the museum will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23 but will re-open on Friday, Nov. 24 at 9 a.m.
Photo caption (230927-F-AU145-1053.jpg):
Visitors to the Steampunk exhibit at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force hold hands to complete a circuit and light-up part of the retro-futuristic experience and create a thunderclap in the Mary Shelley: Ethics and Electricity Gallery. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ty Greenlees)
About Imagine Exhibitions*
Imagine Exhibitions is currently producing over 40 unique exhibitions globally in museums, science centers, zoos, integrated resorts, and non-traditional venues, with millions of people around the world visiting our exhibitions each year. In addition to developing successful traveling exhibitions, Imagine Exhibitions designs, opens, and operates permanent installations and venues, and consults on building, expanding, and directing museums and attractions. With decades of diverse experience in the museum and entertainment industries, Imagine Exhibitions consistently develops exhibitions that educate and excite while exceeding attendance goals. For more information, visit www.ImagineExhibitions.com or find us on Facebook.
*Federal Endorsement Not Implied.
In 2023, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force celebrates its 100th Anniversary. Since 1923 the museum has grown from a small engineering study collection to the world's largest military aviation museum and is a world-renowned center for air and space power technology and culture preservation. Join us throughout 2023 as we celebrate our storied history with special events and exhibits for visitors of all ages. Visit our website for more information at www.nationamuseum.af.mil.
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is the world’s largest military aviation museum. With free admission and parking, the museum features more than 350 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts amid more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space. Each year thousands of visitors from around the world come to the museum. For more information, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.
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NOTE TO PUBLIC: For more information, contact the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at (937) 255-3286.