Enter Peter Tobey's Dreamland: A New K'Nex Exhibit at ScienceWorks

Colorful art installation in a gallery with glowing lights, hanging sculptures, and central display platforms

ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum is thrilled to announce the opening of Peter Tobey's Dreamland, a new immersive hands-on exhibit inspired by the extraordinary imagination of Ashland artist, musician, inventor, and lifelong learner Peter Tobey.

Part art installation, part maker space, and part celebration of curiosity, Dreamland invites visitors of all ages to step into a world where creativity has no limits and every idea has the potential to become something remarkable.

Meet Peter Tobey

Peter Tobey spent the last decade of his life in Ashland, Oregon, where he pursued a wide range of interests that included art, music, engineering, philosophy, organic chemistry, quantum physics, and invention. Although he worked professionally as a computer programmer, his true passions centered on creating, building, and exploring the world around him.

An avid kinetic sculptor and lover of K'Nex construction toys, Peter transformed thousands of colorful pieces into elaborate dream worlds, imaginary buildings, wearable creations, puzzles, and moving sculptures. Some of his creations towered more than 14 feet tall.

Peter was a self-educated lifelong learner who approached the world with a childlike sense of wonder. Many of his sculpture ideas came to him through dreams, inspiring the exhibit's name: Peter Tobey's Dreamland.

Following Peter's passing in 2024, his family generously donated his collection to ScienceWorks. We are honored to share his creations with our community and celebrate the spirit of curiosity and creativity that defined his life.

Explore a World of Imagination

As you enter Dreamland, you'll find yourself surrounded by hundreds of Peter's original creations suspended overhead and displayed throughout the gallery.

Stand beneath towering clockwork sculptures and marvel at their intricate designs. Activate the motor on Peter's giant crawling bug sculpture and watch its complex mechanical legs come to life. Explore a busy board filled with moving art pieces, challenge a friend to a game on Peter's handcrafted checkers set, or try your hand at solving giant puzzle cubes.

Visitors can also step into Peter's imaginative world by trying on wearable crowns, bracelets, masks, and necklaces he designed and built himself.

And, of course, no visit to Dreamland would be complete without creating something of your own. Our hands-on K'Nex building area invites guests to experiment, invent, and discover where their imaginations can take them.

A Celebration of Lifelong Learning

At ScienceWorks, we believe that curiosity is one of humanity's greatest strengths. Peter Tobey embodied that belief. He never stopped asking questions, learning new things, or creating simply for the joy of exploration.

Dreamland celebrates not only Peter's remarkable creations, but also the creative potential within each of us. Whether you're an engineer, artist, scientist, builder, dreamer, or simply someone who enjoys making things, we hope this exhibit inspires you to explore, experiment, and imagine.

Every one of the hundreds of K'Nex creations featured in the exhibit was built by Peter Tobey and carefully transported and installed by the ScienceWorks Exhibits Team.

We cannot wait to share Dreamland with you.

Come explore, create, and discover where your imagination can take you.