State Museum upgrades planetarium & 4D theater with 4K visuals and more
May 25, 2022
Guests can enjoy brighter & more vibrant visuals with a new lineup of shows.
The South Carolina State Museum recently completed exciting upgrades to both its planetarium and 4D theater, adding cutting-edge video software and technology to make guests’ experiences even more immersive.
Trips across our world and in outer space now look better than ever in both theaters with the addition of new state-of-the-art Christie projectors that use lasers to produce stunning 4K resolution visuals.
“You should see a noticeable difference,” says Doug Beermann, Director of Operations, “The new laser projected image is phenomenal- 50% brighter, with more intense, rich colors and clarity.”
In addition to vastly improved image quality, a new digital sky system, upgraded 3D technology and other software additions will further enhance guests’ adventures in the planetarium and 4D theater. According to the museum’s Planetarium Manager, Liz Klimek, “It’s a whole new universe.” Planetarium guests will now see the full splendor of the night sky with stunning star displays and take realistic visits to other worlds like the Moon and Mars.
The updated digital sky system also comes with new software that enables the development of educational content beyond astronomy, from earth science and physics to biology, chemistry and art. Immersive journeys to Antarctica, jungles and more in the 4D theater are now accessible to all museum guests with updated closed-captioning and descriptive audio systems.
More upgrades are on the way for both theaters over the course of this year as the State Museum continues to invest in providing high-quality show experiences for its guests. The museum invites guests see these exciting theater transformations for themselves this summer by enjoying a brand-new planetarium and 4D experience on their next visit.
New Planetarium and 4D Theater Shows This Summer:
Superpower Dogs (Opening May 27): Discover the inspiring true story of the world’s most extraordinary dogs and the remarkable science behind their life-saving superpowers in this immersive planetarium adventure narrated by Marvel Studios star Chris Evans.
© 2018 COSMIC PICTURE, LTD. | All rights reserved
Tom & Jerry 4D Experience (Opening May 27): Legendary rivals Tom and Jerry leave a path of commotion and destruction as they each try to win their epic cat and mouse battle once and for all in this 4D adventure fit for the whole family.
TOM AND JERRY and all related characters and elements © & ™ Turner Entertainment Co. and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s22)
Penguins 4D (Now Playing): This fascinating 4D film narrated by David Tennant takes viewers from the freezing Antarctic to the scorching tropics as it follows the story of one of nature’s most devoted parents- penguins!
© John Downer Productions Ltd, MMXIII Photography Frederique Olivier/JDP © 2012
Find out more information and purchase tickets on our website.
General admission to the South Carolina State Museum is $8.95 for adults, $7.95 for Seniors, and kids aged 3-12 are $6.95. Infants 2 and under are free. Planetarium and 4D theater shows are an additional charge. The museum is open Tues. – Sat. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sun. from Noon – 5 p.m.
About the South Carolina State Museum
As the state’s largest and most comprehensive museum, the South Carolina State Museum offers a unique, entertaining and educational experience to visitors throughout its 225,000 square foot facility located in the heart of downtown Columbia’s Congaree Vista. The State Museum is housed in one of its greatest artifacts, an 1894 old textile mill full of character and charm. In addition to beautiful meeting spaces throughout the facility, guests can explore outer space in one of the largest planetariums in the Southeast, watch an interactive 4D movie and look through a vintage telescope in a one-of-a-kind observatory. These exciting opportunities are all in addition to the four floors of South Carolina art, cultural history, natural history and science/technology that guests can experience. For more information about the museum, visit scmuseum.org.
