June 8 – September 8, 2013

Veni, Vidi, Vici! Come explore, see real art designs and conquer the world of Leonardo da Vinci this summer at Discovery Science Center. Young inventors are invited to experience art and science like never before. Da Vinci: The Genius and Da Vinci Jr. will take you back in time and show you the mastermind of da Vinci through stations designed specifically for your little inventors.

Get ready to explore the full scope of Leonardo Da Vinci’s remarkable genius as an inventor, artist, anatomist, sculptor, engineer, musician and architect. Guests will enjoy more than 200 unique pieces including 75 life-size machine inventions, three-dimensional renderings of da Vinci’s most notable Renaissance works and an eye-opening, in-depth analysis of his most famous piece, “Mona Lisa.”

• Experiment with cranks, levers and pulleys used in da Vinci’s many inventions.
• Learn the secrets behind the Mona Lisa and unleash your inner detective to discover some newly found surprises!
• Take a closer look at the famous Vitruvian Man illustrations and see how neat the human body really is.
• Discover the mystery of da Vinci’s odd writing techniques as little artists master their own writing and drawing skills.
• Come face to face with life size inventions bigger than you. See replicas of the first bicycles, helicopters and more, then can create and draw your own invention!
• Surround yourself with famous 3D art replications like The Last Supper, Mona Lisa, Sforza Horse and Vitruvian Man for a visually thrilling experience.

Hands-On Activities & Programming

Throughout the summer inside Da Vinci’s Workshop, kids can dive into this fully interactive exhibit showcasing history, art and science inventions from the great da Vinci himself.

Engineer’s Corner: June 15-16 & 22-23

Learn about Leonardo da Vinci as an engineer as we dive into the mechanics of some of his works such as the armored car, diving suit, and parachute. Plus, don’t miss these great hands-on activities.

Inventor’s Workshop
Gear up and get ready to tinker in Da Vinci’s Workshop. Use your imagination as you select, place, interlock, and turn gears to learn about cause and effect and which direction the gears will spin. Then hunt for the many gears da Vinci used in his machines.

You Be the Engineer: Catapult Competition
Put on your thinking cap and get ready to design and construct a mini catapult. Then, put your designs to the test and see how your catapult competes against your friends and family!

Colors, Mood & the Mona Lisa: July 13-14

Explore the “Mona Lisa” like never before as we dive into over 500 years of mystery and investigation. Plus, discover your inner artist with hands-on activities related to this famous work of art.

Mona Lisa Smiles
How well do you know your facial features? You might be surprised! Explore the many ways the Mona Lisa has been analyzed, and see what new secrets you can uncover about your own face.

Reverse Writing Challenge
You may be a master at writing your own name, but what happens when you try to write it backwards as a reflection? Test your skills in this mirror-writing activity.

Colored Shadows
Have you ever seen a shadow that is not black? Show off your dance moves among colored lights reflected on a white wall and discover how you can cast six different colors of shadows at the same time!

Center of Gravity: July 27-28

We’re all experts at controlling our bodies, but how much do you really know about how you are built? You’ll be amazed at da Vinci’s discoveries as you find our own proportions and center of gravity.

Proportions of Nature
Discover the mathematical secrets of the Vitruvian Man for yourself by measuring your own forearm, thumb and hand. Then, learn about the proportional relationships of the human body using your own measurements.

Balancing Act
Did you know that it’s possible to balance 14 nails on the head of another nail? You’ll be surprised that the same principle that allows you to ride a bike and even walk on your own two feet is also behind the amazing balancing activities in this station!

Transportation Challenge: August 10-11 & 17-18

Did you know that Leonardo da Vinci drew designs for a self-moving cart over 400 years before the first self-propelled vehicle was invented by Henry Ford? Investigate some of da Vinci’s sketches and designs and discover what a sophisticated inventor he really was. Then, try your own hand at designing a glider!

Go-Go Gliders
When it comes to building and flying paper gliders, there’s more engineering involved than meets the eye. Build a paper glider and test its flight accuracy and distance in a series of glider challenges.

Sounds of the Renaissance: August 24-25

Not only was da Vinci a great inventor, engineer and artist, he was also a man of music. Whether you play an instrument or not, you’ll discover that building instruments is all about uncovering the science of music and sound.

Whack-A-Note
Explore the many sounds that combine to make music by experimenting with resonance, pitch and volume to make your own musical masterpiece.

*Activities and schedule subject to change without notice.