Science Museum to unveil new technology, new movie, and new exhibit this fall - just in time for fall school release days

The Omnitheater will re-open as the third IMAX digital laser dome theater in the world on October 17; BODY WORLDS Rx exhibition and full slate of special events round out a fall season of science exploration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 25, 2019

Media Contacts: 
Liz Joseph, Public Relations Coordinator, Lola Red, (651) 757-7401
Sarah Imholte, Public Relations Specialist, Science Museum of Minnesota, (651) 221-9412

St. Paul, Minn. – This October, the Science Museum will open a powerful new exhibit, host a full slate of special events, and unveil brand new, sophisticated digital technology in the William L. McKnight-3M Omnitheater. The new features, along with visitor favorites like the Sportsology exhibit, the Mississippi River Gallery, the giant astronaut, and the Musical Stairs make the Science Museum the perfect destination for all ages this fall.

The Omnitheater’s next chapter: Digital technology (and snacks)!
This fall, the William L. McKnight-3M Omnitheater will kick off its next chapter as one of Minnesota’s most beloved cinema experiences.  On Thursday, October 17, the Omnitheater will re-open as only the third IMAX digital laser dome theater in the world. The new technology will offer visitors a new crispness, clarity, color, and sound quality that will make the Omnitheater experience even more extraordinary. It will also open the Omnitheater up to a new library of digital content.

The new projection system will debut with the premiere of Superpower Dogs, a giant screen film that will introduce viewers to six real-life working dogs as they brave earthquakes and avalanches, protect endangered species, and transform the lives of people with special needs. The Omnitheater’s 90-foot domed screen is the perfect place for the Superpower Dogs story to unfold.Viewers will be transported to locations around the world to discover the incredible abilities of dogs and the cool science behind their “superpowers.” An inspiring, heartwarming movie that will appeal to viewers of all ages, Superpower Dogs tells a story of the heroism of these animals and the moving bond they share with their human partners.

Along with debuting new technology and a brand new movie, the Science Museum is also pleased to offer concessions for the first time ever this fall. Movie snacks, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase in the Omnitheater queuing area just outside the theater.

After its October 17 opening, Superpower Dogs will run during regular museum hours through January 2020. Admission is $9.95 for adults and $8.95 for kids ages 4 to 12 and seniors. Combination Omnitheater and exhibit gallery tickets are also available.

A trailer is also available. Contact Sarah Imholte for access. 

BODY WORLDS Rx: An unforgettable look inside
On Friday, October 4, the museum will open the BODY WORLDS Rx exhibition, which uses real human  specimens, preserved through the process of Plastination, to demonstrate the complexity, resilience, and vulnerability of the human body in distress, disease, and optimal health. Visitors will marvel at the life processes that are captured in more than 100 specimens – from individual organs to full-body plastinates – and they will leave with a new appreciation of the power we have to keep our bodies healthy.

The specimens on display in BODY WORLDS Rx, which is created by anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens, show impressive comparisons and contrasts between healthy bodies and organs and those stricken with disease. Visitors will see specimens that illustrate common ailments like back pain, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, dementia, and more.

The original BODY WORLDS exhibition debuted at the Science Museum of Minnesota in 2006. It drew more than 750,000 visitors of all ages and proved to be one of the most popular and powerful exhibitions in the museum’s history. It returns in 2019, making its unforgettable content available to a new generation and giving them a chance to look beneath the skin at the biological systems that sustain life and the ways that disease can impact them. 

BODY WORLDS Rx is presented by Medtronic Foundation.

BODY WORLDS Rx will run through January 5, 2020. Admission is included in exhibit gallery admission ($19.95 for adults and $14.95 for kids 4 to 12 and seniors).

Special events
In addition to the grand re-opening of the Omnitheater and the BODY WORLDS Rx exhibition, the Science Museum will host several fall events that have proven to be favorites for visitors of all ages. At Object ID Day (October 5), visitors can explore the objects in the Science Museum’s vast collection, or they can bring in natural items from home and have museum experts help identify them. Other fall events include the popular Preschool Party (October 9); the last-ever Social Science: Spooky Science 21+ event (October 24); the Halloween-themed Boo-ology event (October 26); and Fox 9’s Girls, Science and Technology event (November 9). Visit the Science Museum’s website at smm.org for more information about these and other upcoming events. 

Visitor Information
The Science Museum of Minnesota is located on Kellogg Boulevard in downtown St. Paul. Admission prices and Omnitheater show times are available at smm.org/hours. Convenient enclosed parking is available in the Science Museum’s ramp. The museum is also accessible by bus; please call Metro Transit at (612) 373-3333 for a complete schedule and listing of routes. 

Advance reservations are recommended to ensure that visitors get the Omnitheater show times that best suit their schedules. Reservations are available online at www.smm.org or via phone at (651) 221-9444. For specific directions and other museum information, visit www.smm.org.

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