Special Exhibition

Extended due to popular demand! Now on display through January 5, 2025.

A family of three observes a detailed recreation of The Last Supper

Journey into one of history’s greatest minds

The California Science Center proudly presents the special exhibition LEONARDO DA VINCI: Inventor. Artist. Dreamer. Step into a world of wonder and innovation as you explore 30 ingenious inventions—including the Flying Bicycle, Great Organ, Mechanical Bat, and Great Kite—each built by contemporary Italian artisans according to da Vinci’s drawings. Mechanical wonders that were once only sketches on paper now stand before you, including over a dozen full-scale models. Marvel at the extraordinary detail of da Vinci’s designs, from the Mechanical Eagle suspended above with its 33 ft. majestic wingspan to the whimsical Helical Air Screw, each a testament to his visionary spirit and endless curiosity. Test your engineering skills by building da Vinci’s famous self-supporting bridge, climb aboard and operate his paddle boat, and engage in other hands-on science learning activities inside the exhibition.

See digitally restored reproductions of his iconic artwork including the Last Supper and Lady with an Ermine. Discover details lost forever in the masterpiece as the displays reveal how each painting would have appeared when da Vinci created them. Each work is shown alongside interactive exhibits where you can learn more about the artwork and its restoration.

Seen by over 5 million people worldwide, LEONARDO DA VINCI: Inventor. Artist. Dreamer. is a journey into one of history’s greatest minds to discover the engineering and artistry of his extraordinary creations.

Enhance your experience by seeing the IMAX movie Cities of the Future 3D and, much like da Vinci, discover the exciting innovations engineers are working on today—from electric flying cars to solar power beamed from space.

Buy Tickets

General admission to the Science center is included with your DA VINCI exhibition ticket.

An exhibition by Leonardo3 Museum in collaboration with Running Subway Productions.

Photos

Family operates Leonardo da Vinci's paddle boat VR.

Virtual Paddle Boat

Test your engineering by climbing aboard and operating Leonardo da Vinci's paddle boat, and engage in other hands-on science learning activities inside the exhibition.

Mechanical Lion

The most famous project of which we have solid testimonies is the Mechanical Lion. This animal-like automaton was built on the commission of Pope Leo X so that it would walk, causing great astonishment, before King Francis I of France.

Self-supporting Bridge

Test your engineering skills by building Leonardo da Vinci's famous self-supporting bridge.

Guests walk under da Vinci's flight inventions.

Dream of Flight

Da Vinci was fascinated with the idea of being able to translate the forms of nature into a machine that would allow a man to fly.

The Great Continuous Organ designed by Leonardo Da Vinci.

Great Organ

The drawing of the Great Organ is very small, but the design is extremely clear. Da Vinci places two of his double bellows on either side of the organ. The musician could, without help from others, pump air with his legs and play with both hands free, while the system provided a continuous air flow.

Two guests admire a wooden model of Leonardo da Vinci's row boat inside the da Vinci special exhibition.

Seen by over 5 million people worldwide

LEONARDO DA VINCI: Inventor. Artist. Dreamer. is a journey into one of history’s greatest minds to discover the engineering and artistry of his extraordinary creations.

Aerial Screw

This is not a helicopter, but an experiment with an aerial "screw." Da Vinci wanted to prove that air acts like a fluid and can be compressed. As the screw rotates, it should then twist into the air, lifting the machine.

Flying Bike

A machine governed by just one pilot, the pose of the pilot recalls that of the modern cyclist—though we must bear in mind that bicycles did not yet exist in da Vinci's time.

Paddle Boat

On the simplest designs of rotating paddle boats designed by da Vinci, the movement of the paddles is entrusted to the arms of the sailors driving the boat, while in this one the rotation arises from the alternating movement of the legs of a single sailor. The operator, leaning on the central mechanism, placed his feet on two boards that acted as pedals and moved his feet up and down. The alternating motion was converted into rotary motion of the wheel axle, which, moving in one direction, would give the boat a rectilinear motion.

Multiple Sling

Da Vinci was inspired by the sling, an ancient weapon that allowed stone projectiles to be hurled forcefully. This machine was equipped with eight slings positioned at the end of each arm, which could hurl stones in any direction. The idea was to build an economical defensive weapon with easily available materials and without the complications of firearms.

Multi Canon Gunship

The Multi Cannon Gunship is an armored war machine with sixteen cannons. By examining the mechanisms drawn in the central part, it is evident that this is a huge warship and not a land defense system, as used to be thought in the past. On the ground, in fact, a machine of this size would not have been able to move, even if pulled or moved by animals.