Huston Huddleston
Like Captain Kirk and the rest of the “Star Trek” crew, Huston Huddleston has a history of being a man on a mission. He first made waves across sci-fi fandoms by rescuing and restoring a bridge set created for the next-gen crew of the USS Enterprise. But that was just the beginning. He’s now planning to launch the Hollywood Sci-Fi Museum, a mecca for film and television fans.
Officially announced Thursday, the museum is scheduled for a 2015 opening with a tentative location near Hollywood Boulevard. It will house the restored Enterprise bridge, an original-series “Star Trek” bridge set, “Star Wars” props and costumes, “Battlestar Galactica” sets, a “Doctor Who” Tardis, the cockpit from “Firefly,” a 1966 Batmobile, and a DeLorean from “Back to the Future.” That’s just scratching the surface of planned exhibits, which also include a Hall of Robots and large-scale interactive models of starships.
When asked what he is most excited about, Huddleston told CNET, “As hokey as it sounds, watching someone’s world open up when they step into our museum. Nothing I will ever do in my life will compare to that.” He foresees his biggest challenges as raising money to fund the museum and finding a good location large enough to house all the exhibits. The Enterprise bridges alone take up a lot of space. “This has to be a fun, safe family experience, and hopefully near something family oriented that already draws tourists,” he said.
Huddleston has an illustrious history of drawing support from sci-fi celebrities like William Shatner and the cast of “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” Everyone from Bruce Campbell to Stan Lee has sat in Huddleston’s restored captain’s chair for photo ops. He is hoping to continue to draw from that well.
“I’m reaching out to everyone who has ever acted, directed, written or produced any of the franchises we’re displaying, from Joss Whedon to Jennifer Lawrence,” he said. “Our sci-fi museum is their legacy, it’s something to bring their kids to, point at and say ‘I made this, it’s inspiring people and making the world a better place.’”
The New Starship Foundation is the organization behind the effort. It’s a nonrofit, allowing for tax-deductible donations to the museum. A Kickstarter to help fund the project is already underway.
Whether you’re dedicated to “Tron,” hooked on “Trek,” or in love with “Lord of the Rings,” the Sci-Fi Museum will have you covered. If Huddleston’s vision comes to fruition, it could become quite the draw for sci-fi fans of all stripes. It won’t matter if you wield a phaser or a lightsaber, you’ll feel right at home.
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