Reviewed by Fiona Bessey-Bushnell
The Science Museum of Virginia’s new temporary exhibit, Mindbender, offers your brain an intense but fun workout. As we prepared to enter the exhibit, I wasn’t sure what to expect. When I think of logic, I have flashbacks of analytical standardized test questions that leave me with a zinger of a headache. But Mindbender is so entertaining, you don’t even consider that your brain is on overdrive – and you can forget I mentioned headaches.
Mindbender delivers a mystery-inspired experience, where guests collect clues from the Mindbender Mansion by solving puzzles. Solve this group of puzzles successfully and earn membership to the Mindbender Society.
As you enter the exhibit, the curator of the Mindbender Society introduces you to the exhibit and explains the game on video. Here, guests pick up a Mindbender Mansion Clue Card, and record clues for selected puzzles that you solve. All of the exhibits offer hands-on mindbending, set against the backdrop of different rooms in a nineteenth-century Mindbender Mansion, such as the parlor, the library, the map room and the kitchen – a backdrop reminiscent of the classic game of Clue.
Exhibits highlight an eclectic mix of computer-enhanced brainteasers and hands-on classic puzzles. The puzzles cover math, 
science, and technology, with a focus on critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The two third graders with me rose to the occasion in the group challenges that require teamwork, collaboration, and communication. Although there were younger children visiting, guests about eight or nine and up will get the most out of this exhibit. We observed several intergenerational groups, with grandparents, parents, and children collaborating and learning together.
Our favorite puzzle was one of the group challenges; “Flying Machine” lets you work together to move a system of pulleys to direct a simple flying machine (hot air balloon) to hit targets on a larger-than-life game board. Other examples of challenges include balancing fourteen nails on the head of one nail, putting seven puzzle pieces together to make a cube, and “Spelling Fever,” where guests answer trivia questions and correctly spell the answers by jumping onto a large board of hopscotch-inspired letter squares.
So what did my third-grade guests think of Mindbender?
They loved the aspects of teamwork, and admitted that it was challenging. “That puzzle is harder than it looks!” said one of my young friends. But these boys stuck with it – amazingly – for an entire hour. My son said, “It was hard work, but it was so much fun! You don’t notice the work at all.” Their sense of accomplishment was evident when they successfully completed a challenge. Because there are many puzzles, the flow of the exhibit makes it easy to switch to a different puzzle, and then go back to the original puzzle with a fresh start. And isn’t that one of the best strategies with puzzles? Learn, gather information, consider the possibilities, and then come at it from a renewed perspective.
Mindbender runs now through January 4. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 to 5:00 and Sunday 11:30 to 5:00. Tickets for adults (exhibits only) are $11.00. Adults ages 60 and older and children, 4-12 receive a $1 discount off general admission prices. Active military are admitted free to exhibits. More information is available at Mindbender or by calling 804-864-1400.
P.S. Another reason I know Mindbender is a fun, quality exhibit? We enjoyed the Mindbender challenges for an hour before the kiddos even asked to visit Boost! So consider getting more bang for your buck and visiting the Science Museum’s newest permanent exhibit: Boost! A New Definition of Healthy Fun for Kids and Families | Richmond Family Magazine
