You already know kids are curious by nature. But did you know there is a new exhibit in town that not only embraces their curiosity, but also encourages it? Get ready to enter the world of strange, exciting, and never before seen as the largest and most astonishing exhibit, based on Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, embarks on the Pacific Science Center. From a life-size model of a prehistoric snake to a portrait of Einstein made of toast, explore the real science behind the extraordinary at this mind-boggling exhibit.
Photo: Pacific Science Center
All About Robert Ripley
Ripley was an American cartoonist, entrepreneur, and anthropologist who loved oddities, different cultures, and studying the world. He traveled the globe searching for the rare, unexplained, and exotic. He spent his life collecting artifacts gathered from all over and created a place where they could be displayed in all their glory, enter the sideshow Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. What once started out as a comic strip, a radio show, then a TV show has now been transformed into the most popular exhibit the world has ever seen. In the words of Ripley, “I have traveled in 201 countries and the strangest thing I saw was man.”
Photo: Pacific Science Center
Explore The Unexpected
If your littles think science is boring, prove them wrong by exploring all the cool, and we’ll admit it, sometimes gross, items displayed in the show. Where else can you see portraits made out of toast, keyboard keys, candy, and postage stamps? How about a place where you can stand next to the world’s tallest man? Here you’ll not only see shrunken heads, but learn how they are made, something we hope our little scientists don’t try to recreate. Also located throughout the exhibit are computer screens which let your science enthusiasts get a behind-the-scenes look at how things work. They’ll get up close and personal, an awesome thing, because we all know the best way to learn is through hands-on play and exploration. Find all this and so much more at this extraordinary exhibit where you’ll learn the physics behind some of the world’s greatest phenomenons.
Photo: Pacific Science Center
Oddities Not To Miss
While the entire exhibit is not to be missed, there are definitely parts that are must-sees. Take a seat in the world’s largest chair, touch a cow hairball (disgusting or not, we can’t help but be intrigued), take a selfie in the mouth of a snake, look for your kiddos’ favorite play things in the camel statue made completely out of discarded toys, examine tiny sculptures that are no bigger than a grain of sand, see a two-headed cow, and a four-legged chicken. Examine the Benjamin Franklin portrait made completely out of keyboard keys. Psst….look closely to see his famous findings spelled out in the keys. And definitely do not miss the Robert Wadlow exhibit! The life-like statue is not only fun to watch, but a perfect way to see how you measure up to the world’s tallest man who was 8 feet, 11 inches.
Another surefire hit with the littles will be turning themselves into a work of art. Here, they can bust a move, run, jump, twirl, and watch the vibrant colors on the screen take shape. If your adventurists have a thing for dinosaurs, don’t miss the dino exhibits where you can see (and touch) dino dung and view full-scale models, bones, fossils and everything prehistoric. With two levels of exploration waiting, there is no limit to what your little explorers will see and learn.
Photo: Pacific Science Center
The Details
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not is open to the public at the awesome Pacific Science Center and runs through Jan. 4, 2015. Admission to the exhibit is included in the general admission and is free for members. Make a day of it by exploring the grounds, the exhibits at Pacific Science Center, and now the wonderful, magical world of Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. With so much learning to do, the best time to start is now!
Photo: Pacific Science Center
Pacific Science Center
200 Second Ave. N.
Seattle, Wa 98109
206-443-2001
Online: pacificsciencecenter.org/Exhibits/ripleys-believe-it-or-not
Exhibit dates: Now through Jan. 4, 2015
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 10 a.m-6 p.m.
Cost: $19.50/adult; $14.50/youth (6-15); $11.50/child (3-5); Free for members
Does your kiddo love the extraordinary? Will you be exploring the new Ripley’s Believe It Or Not exhibit? Let us know in a comment below.
–Allison Rasmussen
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