COLUMBIA -- An unprecedented traveling exhibition of the inventions of Leonardo da Vinci will open at the South Carolina State Museum on Saturday, Sept. 27.

"Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion" will bring from Florence, Italy, the world's largest exhibition of machine replicas, constructed according to da Vinci's manuscripts, which were collectively called the "codices."

The unique, 7,000-square-foot exhibit features 40 working machines, a number of them life-sized, built by a team of expert historians and engineers who have studied da Vinci's codices.

"We're very excited to be one of the first stops on the American tour of this prestigious exhibit," said Director of Science and Outreach Tom Falvey. "'Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion' takes museum guests of all cultural backgrounds and ages to the world of one of history's greatest geniuses. Our guests will be able to manipulate and fully activate the machines, which were designed based on the original materials -- rope, wood, glue, etc. -- proposed by da Vinci and made with the tools available at the time the machines were designed."

Organized into five parts, "Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion" is based on da Vinci's study of the elements of nature and applied knowledge: earth, air, fire, water and mechanisms. Highlights include a revolving crane, a full-size armored car large enough for several guests at a time to explore, a working robot, four flying machines, the bicycle, the printing press, floats for walking on water, the parachute and the machine gun.

"Leonardo da Vinci was not only a Renaissance man, he was the Renaissance man," Falvey said. "Thinker, artist, inventor, musician, architect, engineer, anatomist, visionary -- his ideas foresaw the future and anticipated manned flight, armored warfare and many other phenomena."

The exhibit has appeared in Athens, Greece, and Istanbul, Turkey, to broad audiences, critical raves and substantial media coverage.

Admission is $5 for adults and $3 children ages 3 to 12, in addition to general museum admission. General admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors 62 and above and $3 for children ages 3 to 12.

"Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion" can be seen in the Lipscomb Gallery through Jan. 4, 2009.

Special to The T&D

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