LOS ANGELES, Jan. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- BODY WORLDS: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies and the California Science Center have extended opening hours to accommodate crowds of thousands, some waiting up to five hours. BODY WORLDS will now be open until midnight with last admission at 10:30 p.m., Friday - Sunday, during its last two weeks until January 23. Late IMAX screenings of The Human Body have also been added.
Real, preserved human bodies called plastinates are the exclusive attraction. The exhibit on display for the first time ever in the U.S. has drawn over half a million visitors and nearly 16 million worldwide. Despite rainstorms last week, over 50,000 people came to experience the exhibit firsthand. One visitor, Kenneth Lukaszewski who has been involved with dissections for over 25 years noted, “I feel that this is an important exhibition. It is not morbid or sensational. This presents an opportunity for the general public to experience what only a few in the medical world have; that is to see the power and majesty of the human body and to see the hand of the creator in each one of us.”
Guests showing up to see the plastinates are taken by surprise when they encounter a multitude of real human bodies too, all lining up for BODY WORLDS. California Science Center President and CEO, Jeffrey Rudolph comments about the expanded hours, “We are thrilled to offer our guests an extended opportunity to learn about the human body and marvel at its elegance and complexity during the closing weeks of this exhibit.”
Organizers recommend that guests purchase Internet tickets, available at http://www.californiasciencecenter.org/ and suggest visiting during the evening hours for a more undisturbed and pleasurable viewing experience. Visitor surveys reveal that numerous guests are visiting the exhibit three and four times. To accommodate the crowds, the Science Center opened on Christmas and New Year’s Day. BODY WORLDS closes on January 23 and travels to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago where it will open in February.
The close of this exhibit welcomes BODY WORLDS 2, brought for the first time ever to the U.S. by Dr. Gunther von Hagens, creator of the BODY WORLDS exhibits and inventor of plastination. This is a brand new exhibit featuring all new specimens. Highlights of the second exhibit include, the “Suicide by Fat -- Obesity Revealed” specimen which shows fat tissue and how it damages vital organs; a “Cube Head” plastinate, which acts as a 3D puzzle showing us the density of the human head; and “Orthopedic Man,” demonstrating a variety of surgically implanted orthopedic devices. BODY WORLDS 2 opens at the Science Center on January 29 and will run through March 27, 2005.
NOTE REGARDING IMAX SCREENING OF THE HUMAN BODY:
In order to accommodate extended hours and augment guest experience the IMAX theatre at the Science Center has added more show times of the accompanying film, The Human Body. New show times are 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. (Friday, Saturday, Sunday only) and 9:30 p.m. (Saturday only).
The California Science Center is open Monday - Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with the last admission at 8 p.m. and Friday - Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 midnight with the last admission at 10:30 p.m. Guests are encouraged to check http://www.californiasciencecenter.org/ for special extended hours for BODY WORLDS. The exhibit’s special group information number is (213) 744-7540.
BODY WORLDS admission prices are: $12 for adults; $9.50 for seniors 60+; $9.50 for students age 13+ with I.D.; and $5.75 for children 4 - 12. Member rates are $9.50 for adults and $5.50 for children. Special rates for schools and other groups of 15 and over apply. Combination ticket prices for BODY WORLDS and the IMAX film Human Body are: $17.50 for adults; $13.00 for Seniors and students; and $8.25 for children. Audio guides in English and Spanish are also available at $4.00 for adults and $2.00 for children. Admission to all other Science Center exhibits is free. Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
The California Science Center is located at 700 State Drive - Exposition Park, Los Angeles. Enter visitor parking at 39th & Figueroa Street. Parking is $6 per car. Due to the possibility of lines, please arrive early. For general information, call 323.SCIENCE (323.724-3623) or visit our website at http://www.californiasciencecenter.org/. Both the Science Center and IMAX Theater are wheelchair accessible.
The Institute for Plastination, which developed this exhibit, requires members of the print and broadcast media to fill out special permission agreements before on-site coverage of BODY WORLDS 2 is allowed. For your convenience, these forms may be found on the Science Center website media page at: http://www.californiasciencecenter.org/GenInfo/MediaRoom/MediaRoom.php
Please fill out the form and fax it to (213) 744-2026 in advance of your visit. Thank you.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON BODY WORLDS 2
The BODY WORLDS 2 exhibition will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (last admission at 8 p.m.). On February 11, hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last admission at 3:00 p.m.). Guests are encouraged to check the web site at http://www.californiasciencecenter.org/
BODY WORLDS 2 admission prices are: $12 for adults; $9.50 for seniors 60+ and students age 13+ with I.D.; and $5.75 for children 4 - 12. Member rates are $9.50 for adults and $5.50 for children. Special rates for schools and other groups of 15 and over apply. Combination ticket prices for BODY WORLDS 2 and the IMAX film The Human Body are: $17.50 for adults; $13.00 for seniors and students; and $8.25 for children. Audio guides in English are also available at $4.00 for adults, and $2.00 for students and seniors. Admission to all other Science Center exhibits is free. Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Tickets are available for purchase at the Science Center box office or online via our website.
California Science Center
CONTACT: Media, Shell Amega, Paula Wagner or Natalie Lesly, all ofCalifornia Science Center, +1-213-744-7446, or Media Contact for BODY WORLDS,Georgina Gomez, +1-213-744-2679
Web site: http://www.californiasciencecenter.org/