Trekkies went 'where no man has gone before' by dressing in costume for the 50th anniversary celebration of "Star Trek" at the National Air and Space Museum Friday.
WASHINGTON — Trekkies went “where no man has gone before” Friday night, dressing in elaborate costumes for a contest as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of “Star Trek” at the National Air and Space Museum.
Many fans showed up in “Star Trek” uniforms they either bought online or made themselves. Others turned heads by dressing as fictional alien beings from different versions of the television series.
Rod Roddenberry, son of “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, was one of the judges.
He told WTOP he appreciates fan costumes that are super accurate, but creativity really excites him.
“When [fans] come up with something that’s not necessarily in ‘Star Trek,’ but takes a piece of it and makes it their own, I love that,” Roddenberry said.
Roddenberry’s favorite “Star Trek” captain is Jean-Luc Picard, he said.
“If I really had to choose which ship I wanted to be on, I’d feel much safer on Picard’s ship,” he said. “He was a little bit more about diplomacy, and non-interference. He only broke the rules if he needed to. Kirk, on the other hand, threw the book out the window many, many times.”
When it comes to characters, Roddenberry’s favorite is the android Data.
“I loved his journey to find out what it means to be human,” he said.
The museum recently put the 11-foot long model of the Starship Enterprise used in the original TV series on display.
At the end of the costume contest, awards were handed out in four categories.
“Best in Show” went to Randy Jennings, whose incredible, frightening Borg costume included a Borg baby holding a Borg teddy bear.
The “Most Authentic” winner was Maggie Cogan, who made her own original series dress, complete with bloomers.
“Best Original Series Costume” went to William Jjay, who dressed as an Andorian, complete with a blue face, white hair and antennae.
“Best Non-Original Series Costume” was awarded to Ratz Schiff. She bought elaborate dress uniforms for herself and her husband online and altered them herself.