EXHIBIT DRAWS 250,000-PLUS TO MUSEUM

The Indiana State Museum's "Lord of the Rings" exhibit closed last Tuesday. During its three-month stay, more than 250,000 visitors learned about the behind-the-scenes of filmmaking through numerous interactive activities. These included a face-scanning machine that visually transformed a human face to stone, opportunities to have a photo taken with the backdrop of a scene where Frodo joins Gandalf, and a chance to use an ultrasonic sensor to compute a guest's measurement and then compare the individual's height to the movies' characters.

Displays included armor, costumes and special-effect secrets. There was even an exhibit case that contained discarded latex Hobbit ears and feet and Uruk-hai arms and legs worn by actors and actresses in the film.

The museum was the final of three stops the exhibit made in North America. The items on display are going back to New Zealand to become the property of Weta, director Peter Jackson's special-effects company.

Y-Press members recently spent a Saturday at the exhibit interviewing youth. Here are some of their impressions.

ADAM CARNAHAN , 18, Zionsville: "I like how they had the equipment and all the little details that the people would've had with them, making it somewhat historically accurate to Medieval times."

JASON MARNOCHA , 16, Zionsville: "It went above my expectations, 'cause I didn't think it would have this much stuff. So it was amazing to me. I think the most intriguing part was all the movie props, because I think that it's neat to see all the original movie props put into the displays."

JUSTIN FEAR, 18, Warsaw: "I wasn't the most interested and into "The Lord of the Rings," but this exhibit has made me a lot more interested in the full "Lord of the Rings" thing. And I'm thinking I'm gonna have to go watch the movies again."

KYLE REYNEN , 12, Indianapolis: "It was cool that all this stuff has been used by actors and people who are role models."

ASSISTANT EDITORS: David Glass, 15; Mary Hovee, 15.

REPORTER: Colleen Drew, 13.