Who knew that Leonardo da Vinci designed robots?

Or scuba gear, machines of war and even a workable bicycle–about 300 years before bikes became popular?

These are just a few of the discoveries from the “Da Vinci Machines and Robotics” summer traveling exhibition, currently on display at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum.

“This exhibit knocks it out of the park,” says LVNHM Co-Executive Director Kate Porter. “We’re seeing technology that doesn’t re-emerge for centuries.”

Gleaming wood, meticulously-crafted shapes created by the Artisans of Florence from da Vinci’s original designs, or codices, and above all, ideas several centuries ahead of his time, greet visitors to the exhibit.

“Da Vinci Machines and Robotics” is the largest da Vinci traveling invention exhibition in the world, including more than 60 pieces. All, Kate says, are authentically crafted, from materials that would have been available in da Vinci’s time.

Interestingly, art historians say that less than 20 surviving paintings have been verified as da Vinci works. But hundreds of his design sketches still exist.

That would seem to imply that the master artist really enjoyed making things, most of all!

And visitors to the Las Vegas Museum of Natural History, from now through September 10th, get to come up with new ideas, both by seeing the inventions of da Vinci–and by the activities which LVMNH has planned, inspired by his creativity!

On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover:

• The story of the “Da Vinci Machines and Robotics” exhibition;
  

• Some of the inventions included in the exhibition;
  

• A closer look at da Vinci’s robots and why he created them!;
  

• One such automaton, which is being seen for the first time;
  

• The background against which da Vinci created his art and his inventions;
  

• What we know about the possibility of da Vinci actually constructing his designs;;
  

• What Kate has enjoyed most about hosting this showstopping exhibition at LVNHM;
  

• One of the components of LVNHM’s success (they’re celebrating their 31st anniversary!);
  

• Some hands-on maker activities inspired by da Vinci’s work;
  

• One of Kate’s favorite creative lessons from the exhibition;
  

• The new content and program which the Museum staff are developing for later this year.
  

The “Da Vinci Machines & Robotics” summer traveling exhibition is open from now through September 10th, 2022, at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, located at 900 North Las Vegas Boulevard. The museum is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm.