April 4, 2008
Bodies - The Exhibition Las Vegas Uncovers Wonders You Have Never Seen
by Mark Marino
Las Vegas has never been shy about showing off the human body, but Tropicana has given their guests a lifetime opportunity to view many bodies more intimately than ever before. BODIES is an eye widening exhibit that offers a compelling way to understand the amazing and complex layers of the human machine.
Through a process of special preservation, once dead body tissue is rubberized with a silicone polymer and resurrected to a live human form. The world of inventive science and modern medicine present itself in a museum full of real bodies and parts. The entire body is dissected and reassembled for an absolutely lucid and intriguing look at everything piece by piece. Often times these specimens are completely out in the open, allowing guests to get as close as they like and stare without hesitation into the intricate structures that belong to all of us.
The exhibit is broken down into several rooms with each one dedicated to a specific bodily system. People can literally take a tour of their own skeleton, or see the normal framework of human blood vessels standing up in front of them. From the inside out, people can witness the workings of the human heart. Watch it grow strong enough to pump every drop of blood through its normal cycle every minute we are alive. How about seeing laser cut cross sections of humans sliced as thin as a pancake?
Viewers are also given unique insight into their own health by observing the physical differences between a normal organ and a corrupted one. This is perhaps best demonstrated in the respiratory room where a healthy lung is shown right beside a blackened smoker’s lung. People can actually peer into the display and see what emphysema and lung cancer look like, this is possibly the most visually effective no smoking ad ever.
Over the course of touring each room, people may find themselves amazed at how far science has taken us into understanding the mysteries of our own body. At the same time, it is equally humbling to realize how little we individuals really know about what’s under our own skin. The decisions we make about eating, drinking, and exercise play out here in a way that leaves lasting impact and encourages healthy choices for everyone.
This exhibition is both educational and entertaining with optional audio clips for different age groups. There are also several living bodies on hand to answer any questions about general health or any of the 275 specimens on display. After this viewing, any observers will be left with a fresh appreciation for every day that all these parts come together to sustain life. This exhibition is true testament to the beauty and value of our natural curiosities and admiration for the human story.
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You have to go out of your way to find the Las Vegas version of this world famous Museum. And unlike the Liberace Museum or others that have loads of authentic items, this museum leans more on displays, facts, and videos. However, if you (or your kids) are curious about the world we live in, this is a reasonably fun and inexpensive stop on your Vegas itinerary.
A special Las Vegas section notes the records set by the Luxor Beam (strongest light — can be seen from space), Stratosphere Tower (highest thrill rides), Fremont St. Experience light show, Hoover Dam, and others.
Hoover Dam has often been referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World. If you have flown in from the east or the south, you might have seen it from the air, but nothing can compare to seeing it up close and in person.
Have you ever been to one of those seaside aquariums? “Baby, this ain’t one of those.” Mandalay Bay’s new Shark Reef features some of the most exotic and dangerous aquatic animals in the world and puts you right in the middle of it. They have built one of North America’s largest displays of sharks and other salt water predators.
Shark Reef includes almost 100 different species including:
Eels/Marine Invertebrates/Rays: Eels, invertebrates and rays each have exhibits to showcase their species at Shark Reef Moray eels, southern stingrays and hundreds of moon jellyfish are among these creatures. We have a few minor complaints. Shark Reef is quite a hike from the main casino area (past the pool, the arena, convention area and then a little farther).
There are flat screen monitors throughout the display but they don’t say much. Perhaps more informative multimedia displays are planned. Also, the $12.95 price was drawing a few grumbles from people at the ticket booth (although none once they were inside). Perhaps a $10 ticket price in line with the Secret Gardens of Siegfried and Roy would be in order.
After being greeted by Elvis in voice, you enter the museum area to see the music wall, showcasing every commercially released 45, EP, and LP ever recorded by the King along brief year-by-year history of his life.
His Army years are chronicled with one of only two Army trunks that he shipped back from Germany containing a set of his fatigues and 8 pages of personal, hand written correspondence between Colonel Parker and Elvis dated 1959 and 1960. You can feel the presence of Elvis through the many and varied personally scripted items.
The museum houses a number of Elvis’ trademark jumpsuits, including the “Cisco Kid” black and green leather-trimmed one worn in 1971 that was pictured on the “He Touched Me” album sleeve. A recent purchase (and only on display for the rest of the summer) is the dark blue two-piece sleeveless jumpsuit with jewel-studded jacket and ornate blue leather belt that Elvis wore during performances at the Las Vegas Hilton in 1975.
Madame Tussaud’s is billed as a “celebrity encounter,” and is probably the closest most of us will ever get to the real thing. Hey, if this is as close as you can get, it’s pretty darn close! This isn’t the kind of wax museum one finds at a traveling carnival or some beach resort town. These true works of art were often created with the complete cooperation of the celebrity depicted and no detail has been left out.
