'Tinkertoy: Build Your Imagination & the Adventures of Mr. Potato Head' Will Be on Display Jan. 23 to May 1 at Mayborn Museum

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Contact: Terry Goodrich,(254) 710-3321
WACO, Texas (Jan. 21, 2016) – Children and families may embark on an imaginative adventure as Baylor University’s Mayborn Museum Complex combines two hands-on exhibits based on popular toy brands: Tinkertoy and Mr. Potato Head.
Visitors may design, build and work together to make Tinkertoy structures, followed by an out-of-this world silly adventure with Mr. Potato Head.
“Tinkertoy: Build Your Imagination & The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head” exhibits will be on display at the museum Saturday, Jan. 23, through Sunday, May 1, in the Thomas E. and Emilyne Weed Anding Traveling Exhibition Gallery.
"We love to provide opportunities to combine imagination and education in order to encourage children to be lifelong learners. These exhibits are the perfect blend of open-ended play and directed learning, and I know children will consider them fun, fun, fun!" said Charles Walter, Mayborn director.
The journey begins with giant replicas of the classic Tinkertoy construction set to provide the framework for fun, educational activities inspired by GE technologies to turn imagination into working solutions to real-world challenges. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities that promote imagination and collaboration including matching real inventions with their natural inspiration, creating their own Tinkertoy designs and using a kid-powered fan to test their wind-powered Tinkertoy creations.
The adventure will continue with the much-loved Mr. Potato Head character leading young visitors and parents on trips under the sea and to outer space. Visitors can join Commander Mr. Potato Head aboard the S.P.U.D. space station, where they will learn about repair and maintenance to the station. Children can control their journey from the commander’s chair, use the intergalactic translator, explore the galaxy and conduct experiments at the isolation glove box. Next, ocean explorer Jacques Coustato will take visitors on an underwater adventure to build fanciful reefs, meet a friendly octopus and wise clam and enjoy simulated snorkeling adventures. Guests will learn by finding small surprises and a sea horse race in the kelp bed, operating the spud sub, experimenting with sounds from above and below the waves, and generating underwater sparkle using the sub’s disco-ball antenna.
Regular admission, which includes all of the museum and “Tinkertoy: Build Your Imagination & The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head,” is $10 for adults, $9 for senior citizens and $5 for children. The exhibition is free to all museum members and Baylor students. This courtesy also is extended to other college and university students with a valid ID.
Note: Opening day on Saturday, Jan. 23, will include a special screening of “Toy Story” and a chance to meet Mr. Potato Head. Photo opportunities with Mr. Potato Head will be available at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Show times for Toy Story will be at 11:00 a.m. and 2 p.m. Price will be $5 per person on Jan. 23 and 24.
For more information about the exhibit, contact the Mayborn Museum Complex at (254) 710-1104 or visit www.baylor.edu/mayborn/
The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD was created by the Betty Brinn Children's Museum (BBCM) in collaboration with Hasbro. TINKERTOY: Build Your Imagination was created by BBCM in collaboration with PLAYSKOOL and GE. TINKERTOY and MR. POTATO HEAD are registered trademarks of Hasbro, Inc. and are used with permission. © 2015 Hasbro. All rights reserved.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.

ABOUT MAYBORN MUSEUM COMPLEX

Located on the Baylor University campus, the Mayborn Museum Complex features a natural science and cultural history museum focusing on Central Texas with walk-in dioramas, including one on the Waco Mammoth Site, and exploration stations for geology, paleontology, archaeology, and natural history. In addition, 17 themed discovery rooms encourage hands-on learning for all ages.