EMP exhibit steps into ‘Star Trek’ universe with reverence

Trekkies — or Trekkers, however you define yourself — will be relieved to know that “Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds,” a new exhibit at EMP Museum, treats the topic with all the reverence it deserves.

For proof, consider a small detail that Brooks Peck, curator and lifelong Trekkie, included.

A small case displays an original phaser from the original TV show — one of only two left in existence — along with a tricorder and other key artifacts. Just below the case, a small kneeler — Peck’s idea — is subtly placed. If you feel moved, you can kneel and pay homage to these historic icons of the future, and all that they stand for.

There are details like this all through the exhibit. Notice the Klingons — does it seem like they are looming over you?

“All the decks are 12 inches — except for the Klingons are 18 inches,” Peck said. “They needed to tower over everyone.”

There are tribbles hidden in the exhibit. An original self-destruct mechanism is mounted on the wall — “Don’t touch that, please,” Peck said. And all over is glorious, orange “rock” that was hand crafted just for the exhibit. It’s the perfect detail and immediately evokes the feel of the “Star Trek” universe.

The exhibit, which took two years of work to put together, opens May 21 and runs through Feb. 27, 2017.

Peck said the exhibit was designed to feel like an exploration — “Star Trek” away teams are always wandering into caves and canyons and finding trouble, he said.

I attended a preview tour Peck led, and he’s right. Wandering the exhibit does feel like an exploration.

The centerpiece of the exhibit is Kirk’s chair and the navigation console from the original series, which is on display for the first time in 25 years.

The console was in terrible shape and definitely showing its 50 years of age, Peck said. It’s been carefully restored, again with meticulous attention to detail.

The crew who worked on the lights for the control buttons didn’t just program them to light up randomly. They watched the original show, analyzed how the buttons lit up, and re-created that effect.

Once you’ve soaked in the glory of the command console (look for the Tribble) you can begin your further explorations.

What’s around this corner? Whoa, look! It’s The Gorn!

No, really, the original costume for The Gorn, an alien that Kirk battles in the original episode, is on display.

The original shirt, gauntlets and mask are displayed, so you can get a good look at his reptilian head and glorious shirt.

“Even aliens in the 1960s wore fabulous fabrics,” Peck said.

Step into a back nook and discover a Borg alcove. And feel free to climb inside to regenerate.

Nearby, check out the filming miniatures for the Borg Cube. Look close — it and all the other filming miniatures are very detailed. Those details, Peck said, were important for the models to look more realistic on the screen. On the cube, you can even see the round section where the sphere came out in “First Contact.”

Many of the miniatures — which aren’t that miniature, one is 11 feet long — hang up high. Take a look at them from both floors of the exhibit.

Be sure to find the original cardboard model of the “Star Trek” set. It was made by Matt Jefferies, who designed the original Enterprise. The cutout is in amazing condition, especially considering it’s 50 years old.

While you’re there, read about how Lucille Ball was key to bringing “Star Trek” to television. Just one more reason to love Lucy.

Then turn around and crawl through the Jefferies tube, a sort of access panel in the Enterprise that was named for the designer. You’ll find a small, welcome surprise in the tube.

I particularly enjoyed the Jefferies tube. Another of my favorites were the two versions of Khan’s costumes. Khan was a villian in “The Wrath of Khan.” He was originally played by Ricardo Montalban. Benedict Cumberbatch played him in the “Star Trek” reboot.

I loved both movies and have seen them repeatedly but never noticed how the designers played subtle homage to the original costume in the new version created for Cumberbatch.

It leaves off Khan’s conspicuously bare chest, but preserves the feel of the wide shawl collar and the sort of gauntlet arm-coverings.

If you feel inspired, you can re-create William Shatner’s icon scream of “Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!” There’s a filming booth for you to offer your best performance. You’ll be filmed and inserted into the scene. Then you can email yourself the video.

The exhibit is full of interactive elements like this. You can even act out and film a small scene in which you are beamed to another location.

On the upstairs level, be sure to check out the large display screen that lets you examine the schematics of various ships.

Look for the aquatic quarters on the Enterprise-D. Shame those never made it into an episode — it would have been an instant classic.

Another of my favorite elements of the exhibit is what Peck calls “Away Team Encounters.”

“Star Trek” is well-known and well-loved for dealing with the social issues of the day.

One of these encounters, which are displayed on a touch screen, asks “Could you love someone who changes bodies?”

Provide your answer, and then see the issue explained in the context of the “Star Trek” universe.

In a clear analogy about same-sex relationship, the interface tells a fascinating story about how “Star Trek” approached the issue.

In fact, the full experience is fascinating. It’s well worth the trip down to Seattle.

Full speed ahead.

Boldly go

“Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds” runs May 21 to Feb. 27, 2017, at the EMP Museum in Seattle, 325 Fifth Ave. N, Seattle; www.empmuseum.org; 206-770-2702.

The exhibit features more than 100 “Star Trek” artifacts and high-tech interactive videos. Admission, which includes access to all of EMP, is $27 for adults, $24 for military and $21 for kids 5-17, 4 and younger free.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until May 26 and then 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 27 through Sept. 8.

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Brent Spiner (Data) and Denise Crosby (Tasha Yar) will be at the EMP’s Sky Church. The event is free, but there is a charge for photographs and autographs. At 4:30 p.m., the documentary “Trekkies” will be shown, followed by a Q&A with Crosby, who co-produced the documentary. Free with museum admission.