Beaming up

On a recent weekend getaway to the frozen wonderland of Lake Champlain, my wife and I found something quite different among the ice fishermen and the old ruins of French and Indian War battlements. In Ticonderoga, NY there is a complete and full-scale replica of the set of the USS Enterprise from the Original Series (TOS). It includes the bridge, engineering, medical bay, conference rooms, officer's quarters, and the iconic curved hallways. Every detail has been recreated as accurately as possible with loving attention, and using period materials and methods when possible. The founder managed to engage the original art director from the series, and eventually obtain all the design notes and specifications to allow him and his crew to fabricate all the sets and props to original scale and appearance. They have gotten the original cast involved as well, and many of them visit for special events. It's apparently so accurate it sends Shatner and the others into a fugue of memory, recalling their times filming the series.

We had the good fortune to visit on a day when there weren't any other visitors. It was a nasty day, with hazardous travel and wind chills of minus seventeen Fahrenheit. (On our first attempt to visit the day before, we turned back after a few miles because of impassable roads.) As a result, we had the full and undivided attention of a tour guide who was glad to have an audience, and one that ready to nerd out over all the trivia and behind-the-scenes gossip that he had to share. After our tour, we went back to the cabin and watched several episodes of the series, and continued to be amazed at how accurately they had reconstructed every last instrument, panel, and even the mementos on the tables in Kirk's quarters. I highly recommend a visit if you're in the area. Check them out at https://www.startrektour.com/.