Set coordinates on The Henry Ford and beam down to see “Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds” exhibit, until September 2, 2019

Enterprise D filming model from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" — "Star Trek: The Next Generation" six-foot Enterprise-D filming model on display in The Gallery by General Motors at The Henry Ford. © 2019 d2 Saline, All Rights Reserved. USA

On the surface, neither introduction nor explanation seems necessary. An incredible collection of screen-used Star Trek properties will be on display at The Henry Ford in Dearborn Michigan from May 11 through September 2, 2019. [1-3]

What more needs to be said?

A great deal, as it turns out. Prior to opening to all museum visitors as part of general admission, members get their own exclusive preview of “Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds” today. And before that, Saline Journal was shown through a one-on-one tour yesterday led by Innovation Experiences General Manager Cynthia Jones. [4]

Setting the stage, Exploring New Worlds is housed behind doors of The Gallery by General Motors — specifically designed to accommodate shorter term traveling displays such as this. Apropos to past visions of fantastic futures yet to come, the R Buckminster Fuller “Dymaxion House” dominates the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation main floor just outside Star Trek. [5-7]

Inside are the essentials needed to satisfy the die hard aficionado, be that someone dedicated to any particular television series, movie franchises, or “universe.” More than a hundred original artifacts form its core. A phaser rifle from Star Trek: First Contact. The bridge command chair occupied by Captain Janeway. The filming model of station Deep Space Nine. [8-33]

Tricorder and medical scanner props produced in the 1960s for Dr McCoy. [34]

“This is The Henry Ford,” Ms Jones summarized. “You have to have original pieces at the heart of an exhibit here.

Our first consideration in going forward with any themed exhibition is that it provides content that speaks to the excitement of the people who know it best. If you have no other interest in the museum, when you come here to see these displays it has to be fun for you.

Part of that is the detailed thought behind design of the immersive environment itself. Here it is decidedly Star Trek: The Original Series, with lighting palette reflecting the emphasis that networks of that time had put on showing off their capabilities to a growing number of consumers who’d bought color TVs for their homes. Home network NBC aggressively promoted its “living color” programming. (A more extensive history of television is also available at The Henry Ford outside of Exploring New Worlds.) [35-38]

Appropriately integrated other-worldly rock formations against stark angular display framings are reminiscent of what audiences saw in the 1966 episode, “What Are Little Girls Made Of?” [39]

“The strong tie here is definitely 1960s’ Star Trek,” exhibit manager Kate Morland told Saline Journal. “Those episodes formed the roots.”

And yet, because “This is The Henry Ford,” as Cynthia Jones said, there is much more to the purpose and opportunities in this space than may at first meet the eye. Not in the slightest heavy-handed from what we experienced. Rather, the stuff of fodder for thoughtful conversation and even debate long after visitors depart. More than enough reason to see it more than once.

Just inside doors to The Gallary by General Motors, a large atrium succinctly lays out the historical context that spawned Star Trek. Here, as with so many elements elsewhere further in, it provides universal accessibility and appeal — to the deeply committed fan as well as the never likely to watch another bit of programming outside of these walls.

“The Space Race” [40,41]
Race relations [42]
The Vietnam conflict [43]
A few of the people who made Star Trek possible and in the process changed the way television would be viewed thereafter [44,45]

Clearly steeped in this subject matter herself, Ms Jones pointed to an iconic example of how petty differences based on nothing more than skin color were held up to scrutiny. And, of course, “the first interracial kiss,” between actors William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols. This critical issue and pivotal period for America is available for even greater examination through permanent displays at The Henry Ford. [46-54]

The message, as Saline Journal has written elsewhere, is one of not just validating the idea of being who you are, but actively celebrating it. [55,56]

Another important design consideration has been to make content accessible to audiences of all ages. To accomplish this, dedicated areas have been set aside to let visitors crawl through a Jeffrey’s Tube or see themselves “beamed” to some far away destination via mock transporter. Another interactive set of panels encourages them to try their hand at “writing” a Star Trek television episode. [57-60]

Originally developed by the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle Washington, Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds counts the six-foot Enterprise-D filming model among it signature artifacts. [61-65]

The Henry Ford Museum is located approximately 34 miles east of Saline.

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