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Star Trek Exhibit: San Jose, CA

docrice

Lieutenant
Red Shirt
I've been considering this and was thinking of going either today or tomorrow, but haven't seen much feedback on it so far. Anyone go to the San Jose one yet? Is it worth the $25? I love Trek, but $25 is a bit steep these days.
 
Go. If you don't, you'll end up thinking "I should have paid the $25. If you go and don't like it, you'll say "Shit. I blew $25 on that!? But then you'll get over it and move onto something else. In a worse case scenario, you'll regret not going more than you'll regret going.

On a best case scenario, YOu'll go, have a great time, not want to leave, and on your way out you'll find an envelope with $1,000,000. When you turn it in, the owner will be so grateful, (and rich) that he'll let you keep it, and give you a couple more million dollars for a bonus for being so honest.

But again, that's the best case scenario.
 
Well, ended up going because I had to. It's not often that a Star Trek exhibit passes through the area. It was cool, but not "great" in my opinion. I stayed for an hour and it was fun getting a close-up look at some things: the 2'x2'x2' Borg cube model, the rebuilt TOS bridge (which seems smaller than the actual set used on the series and wasn't "exact" but close enough for good times), the various ship models in display cases, the interactive computer terminal towards the end of the exhibit with the trivia and other Trek-science presentations (a la Microsoft Surface), props, uniforms, a mock-up Guardian of Forever, Klingon command chair from ST V, etc..

They had some sound clips of various Trek playing in the background and it kind of got annoying after a while since it was continuously looped.

I don't know how the other exhibits have been, but the San Jose Tech Museum apparently has an IMAX theater and they were playing the new movie. I think it's $8 if you're not a member.

Those ship models have taken a beating over the years. They still look great in person though.
 
I just went to the one in Hollywood a couple of weeks ago. They had different exhibits than you described. We played on the bridge of the Ent-D. It sounds like they took the Star Trek exhibit from a couple of years ago, and split it up for a "light" version. It was still fun to take the kids and share it with them. Unfortunately, my 6 and 4 year olds weren't too impressed.
 
Sounds a little disappointing, but I'm still going (next Saturday, with a small meetup group). Anyone care to join me?

$25 is steep if it's as sparse as described - I wonder why they couldn't just make a new exhibit covering the whole history of Trek, rather than just pulling out a few old models and props? Should still be interesting to see what's there, though.
 
the rebuilt TOS bridge (which seems smaller than the actual set used on the series and wasn't "exact" but close enough for good times),

If it's the same setup as what they had in San Diego last year, I was told by one of the tour guides that the bridge is about 90% of full size, with the reductions coming by shrinking the workstations around the outer ring, along with the center area where the captain's chair and helm console sit. It was noticeable, but you can't really tell in the pictures we took.
 
We played on the bridge of the Ent-D.

I didn't see an Enterprise-D bridge in San Jose. That really sucks that there wasn't one; that would've been awesome.

If it's the same setup as what they had in San Diego last year, I was told by one of the tour guides that the bridge is about 90% of full size, with the reductions coming by shrinking the workstations around the outer ring, along with the center area where the captain's chair and helm console sit. It was noticeable, but you can't really tell in the pictures we took.

That sounds about right. When I was standing in front of the turbolift doors, something in the back of my mind kept telling me it feels smaller than how it looks on the tube. The shrinkage of the outer stations sounds about right. The exhibition version of the stations looked close to what you see in the episodes, except some of the buttons and console readouts were actually labeled. What would've been really cool is if you could press down on the buttons and the sound effects went on. The science station was missing the infamous sensor viewer that shines blue light in your eyes.

Until I saw the bridge in person, I never really realized how little space there is between the captain's chair and the rear hand rails. The TV version has more space though.

Also, the San Jose exhibit's TOS bridge didn't have the helmsman and navigator chairs for some reason.

As mentioned before, there's no picture-taking other than by the official photographers. That's a major letdown. Oh well, these presentations cost money to run and they have to profit for sure.
 
^ We paid to have our "official" pic taken (in the chair, sitting at the helm, etc.), but it was a slow day when we visited the exhibit and the tour guide was cool with us hanging out and taking a few of our own pics until the next group was ready to come onto the bridge. So I was able to get a close-up shot of me in the Big Chair, sitting at one of the stations, etc.
 
Yes, please post that picture.
I am hoping the exhibit makes it into Toronto at some point. I'll make the trip, cost be damned.
 
^ Post the picture!

I had to dig my scanned versions of my my blog archive. The actual pics are much nicer than these scans give them credit for :)

Here are the official pics we had to pay for:

Nerds on the Bridge!

"Beaming down":

Now you see us...

...now you don't!

Guardian of Forever:

We're on our way to White Castle!

Shit! Kevin ran over a cow, and now everything's a chicken place!

And then I managed an extra one of me in the Big Chair:

I've got the con, yotch.
(Had to crop this one, as some dude wandered into the shot just over my right shoulder right as Kevin snapped the pic).

I've got a couple more of me and Kevin sitting at one of the stations on the upper deck, but I didn't scan those.

It was a fun way to while away an hour or so :)
 
Since we're sharing. Here's mine on the bridge, but at the original "Star Trek Tour" in Long Beach.

2529182876_d59a7a6626.jpg


Now that I live in San Jose, I'm considering going to the one at the Tech Museum.
 
Absolutely lovin' it!! Great photos, all. If this thread is still here whenever I manage to get photos taken, I'll post, too. Anyone with photos - git 'em on up. Now I REALLY, REALLY want the exhibit to get to Toronto!! :techman:
 
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