Leonardo da Vinci is unique. Renowned as both artist and visionary inventor, he’s a legendary figure without equal. As seen in the “Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion” exhibit, many of his inventions were centuries before their time. Sparked by his war-torn 16th-century world, da Vinci envisioned several machines in use in the the world we know today. The machine gun, armored vehicle, helicopter and more mechanical marvels are seen in early form in the codices da Vinci left behind. Now his inventions have been painstakingly constructed by scientists and craftsmen. More than 40 machines and mechanisms have been assembled using only the materials and tools available in da Vinci’s time. Each one is life-size and fully operational. Visitors will be allowed hands-on access to the treasure trove of early engineering marvels, and will even be able to set some of them in motion.
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sunday. Through January 5. Space Center Houston, 1601 Nasa Parkway. For information, call 281-244-2100 or visit spacecenter.org. $16.95 to $22.50.
Oct. 21-Jan. 5, 2013
This article appears in Oct 24-30, 2013.