Well known for his artistic masterpieces the “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper,” da Vinci also filled pages of his famous sketchbooks with ideas for machines, many of which he would never see materialize. San Antonio-based Evergreen Exhibitions, which purchased the exhibit from Italy, knew the Witte was interested in a da Vinci exhibit and made an offer the museum couldn’t refuse. Wall-mounted screens throughout the exhibit featured messages from a young virtual-reality tour guide, who led visitors past flying machines, a printing press, inventions for warfare and machines that use water to relay energy. Inventions in the fire category reminded adults how ahead of his time da Vinci’s sketches were — during his life in the 15th century, the ultimate “Renaissance man” envisioned a catapult, machine gun and mortar gun. Lining the ceiling of “The Genius of Leonardo” are several flying machines that curators admit are too heavy to ever fly, including a parachute, theater bird, mechanical wings and bicycle with mechanical wings. The interactive exhibit, which has already been viewed by audiences in Turkey and Mexico City, will be on display at the Witte Museum through Sept.

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