It's human nature to be fascinated by the unknown, to wonder and fantasize about what may lie beyond our world.

And well before humans walked on the moon, children played with toy rocket ships, alien spacecraft, ray guns, robots and toy astronauts.

"We've been doing this for a very long time," said Jane Bowers, the exhibitions curator at the Wenham Museum.

You can see some colorful examples of these early toys and numerous other science-fiction gems from "Star Wars" and "Star Trek" to Buzz Lightyear, Russian-made toy rockets, Legos, Astronaut Barbie, the Jetsons and much more this summer at the Wenham Museum.

The new exhibit, called "Blast Off! Sky-High and Sci-Fi Space Toys," runs through Sept. 18.

The exhibit explores not just the science fiction, but the actual science, the history and how space has captivated us for generations. In addition to toys, the exhibit features a real astronaut uniform, model rockets, photographs from orbit and more.

Playing in the background is a running loop of the first science-fiction movie, the French film "Le Voyage Dans La Lune" (A Trip to the Moon) from 1902. In a case next to the movie screen is a red toy rocket from 1935. Both well predate the time when humans first took to space in 1961, but they show just how far back our fascination goes.

Exhibit reveals 'our culture and history'

One striking takeaway from the exhibit is the realization of just how much we have and continue to care about space and space exploration.

"These (toy) companies are in the business of making money, and they are only going to make toys that people are interested in," Bowers said, looking around the one-room exhibit. "Pop culture and real culture go hand in hand, and it's important for people to see that. People take for granted the fun and entertainment aspect, but to a large extent, they are based on what was really happening in real life."

The exhibit strives to mix and match the real with the fantasy and teaches how, in some cases, the science fiction belies the real science.

A wall highlighting the career of Worcester native Robert Goddard, the father of liquid-fueled rockets, sits next to a case of real rocket models, which stands next to another case of colorful toy rockets and fictional space craft.

A 1950s-era toy robot, for instance, comes equipped with a radiation meter, no doubt playing off the Cold War fears of nuclear Armageddon.

"We're really careful to make sure our visitors get some information from these exhibits so they can understand something about our culture and history," Bowers said. "There are little snippets people can take away."

There are also many pieces in the exhibit, however, that are just plain fun. On one wall is a case filled with a dozen or so sci-fi ray guns, everything from Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon to three generations of "Star Trek" phasers.

"My favorites are the ray guns. They're really cool, and they've got some heft to them. They're fun to hold in your hand," Bowers said.

There's also a full-sized "Star Wars" stormtrooper suit, a Yoda statue and a futuristic Lego city made for the museum by Rhode Island Lego enthusiast Luke Taylor.

The museum, as with most exhibits, spent more than a year gathering and collecting the pieces to fill out the exhibit. About 20 percent of the exhibit's 100 or so sci-fi toys come from the museum's own collection; the rest are borrowed from private collectors, local retailers and other museums.

50 years in space

The idea for a sci-fi theme came when museum staff realized this year marks the 50th anniversary of humans entering space — Russian-born Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space in April 1961, while Alan Shepard became the first American a month later.

"We knew that important anniversary was coming up, and because so much of our collection is toys, it seemed like a good idea to put the two things together," Bowers said.

Since the exhibit opened last Thursday, both children and adults have flocked to see it. The first dozen or so people to walk through the doors didn't even have children with them, Bowers said.

"I think people enjoy seeing the toys because it reminds them of their own childhood. They say, 'I had that!'" she said.

For kids, they usually run up to the stormtrooper at the front entrance, then race to the wooden rocket ship, which they can enter and play with a computer keyboard and hit a button that starts a countdown. There is also a wooden moon rover, astronaut gear for them to try out and a spot for them to draw their own sci-fi creations, which go on the wall and become part of the exhibit.

"They love it. They do a lot of pingponging around the room," Bowers said. "Once that initial burst of energy is out, they start looking around at all the toys."

'Outer Space Saturday' IS TOMORROW

The museum is hosting a family-friendly exhibit reception tomorrow called Outer Space Saturday.

The museum will be open late for families to tour the sci-fi toy exhibit, and children will be able to fly like astronauts in a bounce house, meet a comic artist and top the day off with ice cream sundaes.

Outer Space Saturday takes place tomorrow from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and is free with museum admission.

Other exhibit-related programs planned throughout the summer include:

Junior Jedi Training Party, Wednesday, June 29, 1 to 3 p.m.

Draw on Your Creativity with comic artist Jay Piscopo, Wednesday, July 20, 10 a.m. to noon

3, 2, 1 Blast Off! Rocket Workshop and Launch, Saturday Aug. 6, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Star gazing on Aug. 18, 6:30 to 9 p.m.

For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.wenhammuseum.org.

If you go

What: "Blast Off! Sky-High and Sci-Fi Space Toys" exhibit

Where: Wenham Museum, 132 Main St., Wenham

When: Now through Sept. 18. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission: $7.50 for adults and $5.50 for children ages 16 and under. Group rates are available with advance registration.

More information: 978-468-2377 or www.wenhammuseum.org.