I remember the evening event in particular. For these events, each Star Trek cast member was paired with a staff escort I was paired with Nichelle Nichols who played Lieutenant Uhura. The Museum hosted two events before opening the Star Trek exhibition-a morning press conference and an evening reception. Linda King currently serves as a project manager at the Museum, but in 1992 she found herself momentarily stuck in a freight elevator with the cast of Star Trek. Those famous Spock ears that took, "SO long to get JUST right." Thank you for encouraging us to go boldly and allowing us to join you on your journey to explore strange new worlds. It's been a blast! Leonard Nimoy was initially conflicted about his role as Spock and I suspect he was just as unprepared for the intense notoriety that waned and waxed over the years.īut just as the Smithsonian remains a much beloved institution, Nimoy, as an actor, artist, musician, director, and of course as Spock continues to inspire. Not everyone at the Smithsonian thought the Star Trek gallery was a good idea and they were unprepared for the huge crowds that visited every day during its short run. Nimoy seemed genuinely moved as he paused to read the many pages of tributes, recollections, and expressions of appreciation from fans of a low-rated, often panned, sometimes cheesy but highly relevant television show. As we exited the gallery, I showed them the guest book with the names of, and comments from, thousands of visitors. The Nimoys smiled, it was time for them to move on. We ended the visit watching the video clip of Joan Collins getting killed by a car as a devastated James T. Kirk looks on. But my role that morning was gallery supervisor, not "fan." That meant no pictures, no autographs, just a casual conversation about how the ears took SO long to get JUST right, the raging controversy over that first bi-racial kiss, and the "state-of-the-art" special effects that, well, just didn't look quite that special anymore. How can a fan (me) NOT be excited about standing under the model of the Starship Enterprise with Spock in the flesh. But the usually crowded Star Trek gallery at the National Air and Space Museum was quiet and empty early one morning when Leonard and Adam Nimoy came to visit. The president of Mozambique, Sonny Bono, Chelsea Clinton, David Copperfield, and Gary Busey all came to see.
Some wore uniforms, others had memorized entire scripts, many were just curious. Marilyn Kozak retired from the Smithsonian as director of donor relations in 2011, but in 1992 she was asked to serve as the gallery supervisor of the Museum’s Star Trek exhibition. From left to right, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and DeForest Kelley at a panel discussion at the 1992 Star Trek exhibition opening.
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