California Science Center & Dead Sea Scrolls

Today we are heading up to Los Angeles again, this time to tour the California Science Center, mainly to see the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit while it's in town, but also to see the Endeavour Space Shuttle, a 3-D Imax movie about Jerusalem, and whatever other exhibits we can squeeze into our day.

California Science Center

Carol N, Debbie, Joy, Seema, Chris, and our special guest for the day, Janean
ready for our day 

This cool display is just outside the entrance

Once inside, our first stop of the day . . . 

The Endeavour Space Shuttle Exhibit

This huge image of the Endeavour is just outside the exhibit

We watched a film that documented the challenge of moving the Endeavour through the streets of Los Angeles on its way to its permanent home . . . 

Traveling the streets of L.A.

Almost Home

Endeavour

A closer look at the nose

And the tail

Very impressive, yes?  Of course, we took a moment for a photo opp . . . 

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and Endeavour

We learned a lot about this amazing space shuttle and the awesome feat of engineering it represents.
For example, every single tile is unique and has its own individual specifications and barcode.

Close-up view of the tiles

A closer look at the insulation blanket 

Some Fun Facts about the tiles

Wanna see what the inside looks like?  Check this out . . . 

Pretty cool, yes?

The SpaceHub

A closer look

Here's a look at Endeavour in the air

And some more Fun Facts about Endeavour . . .

Lots of fun information in case you're ever on Jeopardy

All around the room are photos of the crews and information about
 the various space shuttle missions

Endeavour flew 25 missions . . .

Endeavour's first mission

Endeavour's last mission

Did you know that Endeavour was the replacement for Challenger, the one mission and space shuttle none of us will ever forget . . .  

Challenger

 Here's a replica of Mission Control . . .

Mission Control

Endeavour after take-off

We spent a LOT of time in this exhibit, but finally it was time to move on . . .

We passed by some aquatic exhibits, which are always fun to see . . .

Pretty Starfish

A Big Green Fish???

Sea Anemone

Jellyfish

And this big guy who was swimming overhead

And then we headed into the Imax Theatre to see "Jerusalem" in 3-D . . .

"Jerusalem"

Glasses On - We're Ready

The movie was really good and gave us a very real picture of Jerusalem and the various cultures that live within the city walls, as told from the viewpoint of young girls from each of the three major religious that co-exist there - Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

Jerusalem is located on a plateau in the Judean Mountains
between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea

Jerusalem

Finally it was our time to enter the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit.  No photography was allowed, but thanks to the Internet, we have a couple photos to show a small portion of what we saw.  The 

exhibit was very interesting, although the fragments of the scrolls were very tiny and fragile.  The exhibit contained sections from ten of the Dead Sea Scrolls, some of which were the oldest discovered copies of the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament.  There were fragments containing passages from Genesis, Isaiah and Psalms.

Also within the exhibit were many artifacts, ancient pots and figurines, jewelry, coins, weapons and other articles that help historians piece together the story of this past era in history.

We learned that the first scrolls were discovered in 1947 when a Bedouin shepherd casually tossed a rock into a cave and heard a pot shatter.  Over the following eight years, archaeologists and Bedouins found thousands of parchment fragments in eleven caves, including the oldest known copies of the Hebrew Bible.  Scholars pieced the parchments together, some no larger than a postage stamp, during the decades that followed.  Hearing the story and seeing these tiny pieces of ancient writings was totally fascinating.

The Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit
The tiny fragments of the scrolls were encased in this circular viewing area

Lots of other ancient artifacts accompanied the exhibit

At the end of the exhibit was an enormous three-ton piece of stone from Jerusalem's Western Wall and you could write a prayer and tuck it into the stone.  All prayers were then sent to Jerusalem to be inserted in the actual wailing wall . . .

Jerusalem's Wailing Wall

Just being this close to all these ancient pieces of God's word was a really unique experience, and we were all really glad to have the opportunity to see them.

Of course, no event is complete without a little shopping . . .

Fascinating Find

Debbie won the "shopper of the day" prize

As we left the Science Center, we passed by . . .

The L.A. Memorial Coliseum 

The Olympic Torch still burns brightly

Next stop . . . . Dinner . . .

TGI Fridays

Joy, Seema, Chris, Janean, Debbie & Carol N

And dessert . . .

Frozen Custard - YUM!

What a perfect ending to our day.

Actually . . . God gave us an even better ending . . .

Gorgeous

Another really fun day with F.R.I.E.N.D.S.  Can't wait for our next adventure. 

Museum of Tolerance

Today's excursion was more emotional and somber than our usual outings, but very important and memorable, and definitely worth our time.  Queen Leslie and Princess Seema planned a very interesting and informative day for us at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.

Museum of Tolerance, Los Angeles, CA

Inside one of the Hallways

Barbara's friend and Leslie's granddaughter Sofia
joined us for the day

There is so much to read and attempt to absorb and learn about Adolf Hitler, the concentration camps, what it was like to be Jewish during that time in history, and the lasting effect the Holocaust has had on the world, everything was totally overwhelming.  We all felt it would take several visits to be able to grasp it all.  The experience definitely leaves you with a huge lump in your throat, tears in your eyes, and the inability to even speak for awhile afterward. 

One of most interesting parts of the day was listening to a holocaust survivor talk about his experiences.  We were all transfixed as he told us stories about the struggles of the Jewish people and life both in and outside of the concentration camps during this horrific period in history.  

Bill - Holocaust Survivor

No photography of any kind is allowed inside the exhibits; however, here are a few "borrowed" images from the Internet to show just a tiny fragment of what there is to see and learn inside this museum.

Outdoor Street Cafe - Depicts a scene during the 1930's where
people are discussing their concerns over the
impending Nazi takeover of  Germany

Appeasement -   In the years before World War II, Allied leaders chose
the path of appeasement and missed opportunities to stop Hitler.

Hitler Letter - A 4-page letter signed by Adolf  Hitler, dated Sept. 16, 1919,
six years before the publication of Mein Kamph (Adolf Hitler's autobiography), describes his hatred
of Jews and outlines his plans which call for,
"The uncompromising removal of the Jews altogether."

If only the world leaders of the time could have understood and recognized Hitler's words for what they truly meant, maybe the Holocaust could have been prevented.  Of course, hindsight is always 20-20.

Hall of Testimony - A specially designed gas-chamber like room where visitors
can see and hear unforgettable stories of the courage and sacrifice of
Holocaust victims and survivors.

Auschwitz - Near the end of the Holocaust section is a mock concentration
camp gate where visitors must choose between doors labeled
"Children and Others" and "Able-Bodied".  

Artifacts from the Holocaust

Another portion of the museum centers on one of the most well-known individuals from the Holocaust - Anne Frank.  Most everyone has some knowledge of this remarkable young girl who documented her life while in hiding, and most of us have read her diary or seen one of the many movies made about her life.  To see actual photographs of Anne and actual pages from her diary in her own handwriting was extremely heart-rending.  Her exhibit highlights little known facts about her time in hiding and the events that led to her arrest.

Ann Frank Infinity Wall - The stacks of clothing on the left once belonged
to actual victims of the Holocaust

Photos of Anne Frank

Pages from Anne Frank's diary

There is a lot more to see at the Museum of Tolerance than what is shown here, and a visit there is definitely a moving, sad and emotional experience, but one that everyone should experience at least once.  Most of us stated we would like to go again, and now that we know what to expect, we might be able to understand and absorb more of it the second or third time around.

On the way home we stopped at the Olive Garden to enjoy a yummy meal before ending our day . . .

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. at Olive Garden

Thank you Queen Leslie and Princess Seema for a truly memorable day.