Get inside the mind of a genius

Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007 | 7 a.m.

What: "The Da Vinci Experience"

When: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Through: March 2

Where: Henderson Events Plaza, 200 Water St.

Admission: $17 (two for one Monday through Friday), $12 for children ages 7-17 and seniors, free for children 6 and under; (877) 775-5252, www.davinciexperience.info

Leonardo da Vinci is in Henderson. That's what the pamphlet says : "da Vinci in Henderson." Maybe Hoover Dam lured him. It is, after all, one of America's Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders. It generates power and harnesses water for use in Nevada, Arizona and Southern California.

Da Vinci, the engineer, probably would be impressed. And we could really use his help to get out of this water mess.

Perhaps he'll hop in one of the cars he designed for theatrical use, drive to the dam, then head off to Las Vegas to see all the razzle-dazzle there. It would blow the sandals off da Vinci, the theatrical producer. As would the Bodies Exhibit - no more forbidden autopsies.

Maybe he'll use the air screw he was working on - now that there are materials to actualize his drawings of an early helicopter and other ideas that have rested on paper for nearly 500 years.

It turns out this fabrication of sketches is what's really going on in Henderson at "The Da Vinci Experience."

It's not the man himself on Water Street (how embarrassing and slightly disappointing for those of us who thought it was), but creations of his works on paper. Wooden models demonstrate in three dimensions the ideas that the scientist, architect and engineer was tossing about 500 years ago in Italy.

In about 60 items (none originals) we learn about the linked chains he created, the robot in knight's wear he designed for possible royal presentation and the ball bearings he studied to reduce friction, wear and tear. We consider his ideas to reduce labor and thus increase the efficiency of workers. His glider hangs above the displays of pulleys, a hydraulic saw and screw mechanisms.

The touring exhibit on its third U.S. stop includes samples of work da Vinci did for the military: a clever, easy-to-assemble bridge design for troops crossing ravines and rivers, ammunition and an enclosed rolling military vehicle with cannons.

The exhibit's Henderson stop is part of the city's efforts to bring in the arts. About 40,000 visitors are expected through March 2. In the first week, there were 700 visitors to the white tent near the edge of the valley.

But you have to ask yourself whether the drive and the $17 to enter (two for one Monday through Friday, $12 for children and seniors ), is worth it.

We've got space stations, computers and TV. Why would we want to examine variations of gearshifts, a candlelit spotlight for theater and an autolock mechanism? Where does this genius fit in modern society?

The tent presentation (the convention center was booked) is a bit awkward given that da Vinci was an event planner .

But with myriad products trying to grab our attention, this might be a nice little reprieve from our modern conveniences. It helps that many of the exhibits are interactive. Survivalists would surely get a kick out of it. Because , who knows? We may be back at square one someday.