These days, if you head down to the Inner Harbor, you are sure to find something of interest... like finding the doors to 'The Barn' cranked open. The Barn is situated next to the Super 'Dangerous' Yard - a place where many of the missiles and jets are found. The kids that take the tour of this yard call it 'dangerous' because of the artillery found there, while the employees that work at The Barn say that it is dangerous [joking] because the kids pick up the pebbles and throw them at the aircrafts.
When I peered into The Barn this past Friday, I was surprised to see something that looked like a shuttle ship from the original show, Star Trek. Whether it was intentionally designed to look that way or not, it was the last thing that I expected to see there. It turns out that the shuttle is actually a working Venturer simulator where visitors can pay a couple bucks to find out how it feels to ride a Harrier Jump-Jet. I also discovered that there was a pretty radical (and dangerous) looking experimental helicopter contraption (X-Ron 1 Rotorcycle Helicopter) hanging from the ceiling. I'm sure that both kids and adults will get a kick out of some of these exhibits. There's plenty of information to go along with all of the displays too.
As far as why this exhibit area looks like a barn? When the Commercial Slip was being planned, The Barn was designed after a typical metal shed-like barn that would have originally been found in the area surrounding the Erie Canal Terminus. It was built as an inexpensive way to house some of the military displays behind the brick museum. It works as an enclosed addition to the Super Yard, mostly featuring items that could not withstand the outdoor elements.
Don't forget to pick up a customized set of dog tags for the '08 Red Cross Mash Bash party while you're there!
For more information on exhibits at The Barn, along with hours of operation, just click here. For more information on the Military Park, check out this post. To see waht you can expect in coming months, click here. And here's a bit more on the park. Or check out a look at the CanalSide vision. And more here.