The Original STEM Master: Set Your Imagination in Motion at MOSI’s New Leonardo da Vinci Exhibit
Get ready to crank, spin and fly into the mind of the world’s greatest inventor! At MOSI, Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry, you can explore “Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion” starting Saturday, January 17, 2026.
At MOSI, you know you’re in for hands-on fun. You’ll take control of a full-scale mechanical playground bursting with motion, imagination and discovery and 40 life-sized machines inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s original drawings.
When master artisans in Florence, Italy, built the machines, they used only the materials and techniques that were available to da Vinci himself 500 years ago. Each creation is a work of art (please, touch the art!) and a faithful recreation of da Vinci’s genius, just waiting for curious hands to bring it to life.
“Leonardo da Vinci was STEAM before STEAM had a name,” says John Graydon Smith, MOSI President & CEO. “He blended science, technology, engineering, art and math into everything he imagined. This exhibit lets you explore that same mix of creativity and curiosity in action.”
Kids (and parents, too!) can lift weights with da Vinci’s cranes, pump water with an Archimedes’ screw, test out floats designed for walking on water or climb into a full-sized armored tank that can hold eight people. You can even explore his flying machines, which he dreamed up centuries before the Wright Brothers ever left the ground.
The exhibit is arranged around da Vinci’s four classical elements — Earth, Water, Air, and Fire — with each one revealing a different side of his endless curiosity. You’ll see how his notebooks came alive through hands-on exploration that brings to life art, engineering and pure creativity. It’s the largest hands-on display of full-size Leonardo da Vinci machines ever assembled.
Whether you’re a budding inventor, a young artist or a family looking for a day filled with discovery, “Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion” is an experience you won’t want to miss.
The exhibit is included with MOSI admission for a limited time only. So, mark your calendar, bring your sense of wonder and come see how one man’s imagination set the world in motion!
Artificial Intelligence: Your Mind & The Machine
LAST CHANCE! Limited time exhibit closes January 4, 2026
Solve puzzles, paint with machines and meet the future face-to-face! This hands-on exhibit makes the world of AI exciting, accessible and unforgettable.
MOSI Winter Break Camps
Dec. 22-24 and Dec. 29-31
From designing a rover that explores frosty planets to animating your own holiday movie, MOSI’s Winter Break Camps are age-appropriate adventures for kids in kindergarten through 8th grade. Sign up now at mosi.org.
Presented by MOSI
Related: