The mystery machine has made a pit stop at The Museum of Discovery and Science with Scooby-Doo and the gang needing help to solve the whodunit of a gem-stealing ghost.
In “Scooby-Doo! Mansion Mayhem,” designed by The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and at the Fort Lauderdale science museum through Sunday, Jan. 5, Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma invite amateur sleuths to join them on an adventure that involves stolen jewels, a tarnished family legacy and plenty of clues.
Based on the animated series “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?,” which ran on CBS for two seasons from 1969 to 1970, “Scooby-Doo! Mansion Mayhem” is an interactive exhibit that encourages everyone to work together to solve the case of a jewel-thieving ghost by searching for clues, making observations, and examining pieces of evidence.
The program is a great fit with MODS’ mission of engaging kids in STEAM activities, says Joe Cox, president and CEO of the Museum of Discovery and Science.
“There’s a lot of things we consider when deciding how to bring a traveling exhibit to the museum. What I loved about ‘Scooby-Doo! Mansion Mayhem’ is that it features many of the elements of STEAM which stands for science, technology, engineering, art, and math education that we offer at MODS. It also really encourages positive character traits like critical thinking, observation and deduction skills, and problem solving in a way that leads to real world skills,” says Cox.
Visitors begin the journey outside of a spooky mansion where “detectives” are greeted with a note from the gang. The “Scooby-Doo” sleuths have been called to the mansion where a jewel-thieving ghost was last seen. It’s also revealed that the ghostly thief robbed a fourth jewelry store where he made off with over $2.2 million of priceless rings, bracelets and a rare ruby necklace owned by a woman named Ruby Magnolia who once lived in the mansion.
From there, visitors make their way into a graveyard where names appear on three worn gravestones: Diamond Jekyll, “Big” Ben Jekyll, and Pearl Hyde, which begs the question, could one of them be the ghostly culprit? The mansion has the clue, so inside you go.
Enter into the portrait hall where you’ll see pictures of Mr. Emerald Hyde, Dr. Beryl Jekyll, and Helga Moonstone. There are instructions that encourage guests to check behind each portrait for clues. There are other items to discover behind the portraits, such as a Jekyll family ledger that reveals a deep dark secret about the family patriarch and a checklist entitled “Master Plan” bearing a mysterious green thumbprint.
Is it possible that there was no ghost after all? Someone has left a reminder that states: “Create a ghost disguise to scare away neighbors and police.”
Sometimes the team needs help, too. In one room, amateur sleuths are asked to assist Velma who has lost her glasses and needs assistance analyzing clues she’s discovered.
From room to room, there are more clues – a study with a large bookcase with books on shelves that may have answers. Deeper into the mansion, Fred has stumbled on the thief’s secret workshop where there are tons of new clues including tools to pick locks and shoes on sticks to make ghostly green footprints.
Once all the clues are gathered, it’s time for the “detectives” to assist Fred in setting a trap to catch the thief: There are yellow gears that pull a rope, a spring-loaded boxing glove,and a blue net that will ensnare the thief when all the pieces are set into motion.
With all the clues found and the trap set, the gang regroups to catch the thief and the case is closed. Take a photo with the Mystery Inc. gang as you all unmask the villain together.
“When we’re looking at our traveling exhibit series for the year, we try to choose one with an interesting balance of different types of themes. We liked this exhibit because it appeals to families with small children, but it also appeals to adults and slightly older children,” says Cox.
Cox says that the exhibit attracts visitors for different reasons, especially for some parents who grew up with the cartoon series and their children who have watched the show in reruns.
“I was in there recently watching families go through the exhibit and I realized I didn’t see a single parent distracted on their phone, aside from taking pictures of their kids. Children were explaining to their parents the clues that they missed and showing the parents how to solve things, which I just thought was brilliant,” says Cox.
IF YOU GO
WHAT : “Scooby-Doo! Mansion Mayhem”
WHERE: Museum of Discovery and Science, 401 SW 2nd St., Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Through Sunday, January 5, 2025.
COST : $28, adult; $26, senior 65-plus, $25, military, $23, children ages one through 12 with those under 12 months, free. Members of the Museum of Discovery and Science are also admitted free. (Exhibit included with museum admission)
INFORMATION: (954) 467-6637 or
mods.org
