Marine Pfc. Brian Critchfield, assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps Detachment at Fort Gordon, and his fiancée Jessica Hresko, from Baltimore, Md., take a close look at a wooden replica of a hydrovic screw featured in the "Inventions of Leonardo da Vinci exhibit" during Smithsonian magazine Museum Day Sept. 27 in the Knox Gallery at the National Science Center's Fort Discovery in downtown Augusta. The exhibit, which features many inventions of the well known painter, mathematician, architect and inventor, runs through Oct. 11. An individual and one guest could tour museums around the country for free on Museum Day, Sept. 27; the event is sponsored by the Smithsonian magazine. Photo by Bonnie Heater

Hundreds visited museums and cultural venues free of charge around the country Sept. 27 during the Smithsonian magazine's Museum Day. All that was required for an individual and a guest to visit a museum of their choice was a copy of an admission card which could be printed from the Smithsonian magazine website.

Marine Pfc. Brian Critchfield, assigned to the Marine Detachment at Fort Gordon, and his fiancée Jessica Hresko selected the National Science Center's Fort Discovery museum, located in downtown Augusta, to tour. We wanted to see "Inventions of Leonardo da Vinci, said Critchfield. His fiancée drove down from Baltimore, Md., to spend some time with him. He is completing the super high frequency satellite communications operator-maintainer course at Vincent Hall on Fort Gordon.

Critchfield and Hresko viewed several wooden replicas of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions. Of particular interest to the young Marine was the hydravic screw, which converted water power into mechanic power by transmitting to a horizontal axle the rotary motion imparted by water falling on the blades. Its principle is used in modern water turbines.

Many replicas of this Italian Renaissance genius are on display at Fort Discovery. Some of them include: a parachute, assorted flying machines, double hull for ships, paddle wheel ship, a helicopter, printing press, spring-drive car, hydrometer, anemometer and much more.

The famous painter of the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper was born April 15, 1451 in the Tuscan hill town of Vinci, in the lower valley of the Arno River in the territory of Florence, according to Martin Kemp's book: Leonardo Da Vinci Experience, Experiment and Design. He was the illegitimate son of Messer Piero Fruosino di Antonio da Vinci, a Florentine notary, and Caterina, a pleasant. His parents did not marry, but he spent his early years with his father. Because of the nature of his birth he was limited in his choice of a vocation. He couldn't become a notary like his father. Fortunately, his artistic abilities helped shape his future.

In 1466, at the age of fourteen, he was apprenticed to one of the most successful artists of his day, Andrea di Cione, of Florence, Italy.

At the age of 20, da Vinci qualified as a master in the Guild of St. Luke, the guild of artists and doctors of medicine. His life is an interesting read. Few knew he was a vegetarian. Often he would purchase birds in the market and just release them to the wild. He died at Clos Luce, France, on May 2, 1519 and is buried in the Chapel of Saint- Hubert in the castle of Amboise.

Da Vinci's designs and inventions continue to be featured in the Knox Gallery of the National Science Center's Fort Discovery, located at One Seventh Street on the Riverwalk in Augusta, through Oct. 11. The exhibit is free with paid general admission. See

www.NationalScienceCenter.org for prices, hours and directions or call (706) 821-0641.

(This article was compiled with assistance from Vicki Arnett and Kenneth Jackson, who are librarians at the Woodworth Consolidated Library.)