The Museum of Zelda
The Museum Of Zelda is an institution dedicated to the history, culture, and overall world of Shigeru Miyamoto's Legend of Zelda series. The building's layout is based around the Ocarina of Time's final dungeon, Ganon's Castle, and is split into six wings themed after the six medallions that our hero Link needs to collect. Each wing hosts a different part of the Zelda series.
Entrance Hall
Upon entering the museum through its grand pair of double doors, guests are directed down a long corridor similar to that of the infamous "Temple of Time". Along the wall on the right side (for those walking in from the entrance) is a timeline of the Zelda series as a game, from its creation to the major milestones and game releases. On the left side is a timeline depicting the history of the game world itself, starting with Hyrule's creation and the many conflicts that occurred throughout the series.
Above guests, a large painted mural covers the ceiling like the Sistine Chapel.
Above guests, a large painted mural covers the ceiling like the Sistine Chapel.
Main Room
The main room connects the museum's six wings to the entrance. It displays various Zelda artwork by both fans and official artists on the walls, as well as describes the history of the museum and an overall welcoming message to its patrons.
At the middle of the room there is a two-level glass structure made out of three triangles, representing the tri-force. The first floor is the information desk, and the second floor is the museum's gift shop.
At the middle of the room there is a two-level glass structure made out of three triangles, representing the tri-force. The first floor is the information desk, and the second floor is the museum's gift shop.
Forest Wing
This part of the Museum focuses on the games' character design, featuring walls covered in concept art of various races that explain how and why a certain character looks a certain way. Along with the images, there are countless rows of mannequins sporting the different outfits of the Zelda series's most popular characters.
Around the corner in the next half of the room there is a photography center set up, where guests can choose to dress up as a character of their liking and have their photos taken. Guests may choose the background of their photo via a green screen and choose their background from a number of locations, from Hyrule Field to inside a dungeon running from a monster.
Around the corner in the next half of the room there is a photography center set up, where guests can choose to dress up as a character of their liking and have their photos taken. Guests may choose the background of their photo via a green screen and choose their background from a number of locations, from Hyrule Field to inside a dungeon running from a monster.
Water Wing
The Water Wing revolves around one of the most defining features of the Legend of Zelda series: the music. There are four rooms, each focusing on a certain "type" of Zelda game. Each room has a mural that covers the walls, and on these walls are the titles of songs and buttons that guests can push to play a segment of the song described.
The first room presents the music of the initial Zelda games, from the original Legend of Zelda to Link's Awakening.
The first room presents the music of the initial Zelda games, from the original Legend of Zelda to Link's Awakening.
- The second and largest room is dedicated to the music-centric Zelda games, mainly Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and Windwaker.
- The third room involves the famous Hyrule Symphony Orchestra, as well as other orchestral covers of memorable songs from the series.
- The final room is a sort of "Hall of Fame" that recognizes the many composers of the Zelda series.
Spirit Wing
Much like a dinosaur exhibit, the Spirit Wing acts as a walk-in bestiary for the monsters encountered in the Legend of Zelda series. Stalfos warriors, deku scrubs, like-likes, every monster you've ever faced is here! This wing's floor is flooded with dry-ice mist and kept dark and cool, adding to the fear factor of the statues of monsters that loom over the spectators.
And for those guests who are unafraid of these dangerous creatures, a small haunted house is built into the back of the room with tilted floors, fun house mirrors, and the occasional scare from monsters who pop-out from unseen spaces. (For example, the "Wallmaster" creatures that drop from the ceiling). During October, the haunted house extends to fill the entire Spirit Wing.
And for those guests who are unafraid of these dangerous creatures, a small haunted house is built into the back of the room with tilted floors, fun house mirrors, and the occasional scare from monsters who pop-out from unseen spaces. (For example, the "Wallmaster" creatures that drop from the ceiling). During October, the haunted house extends to fill the entire Spirit Wing.
Fire Wing
The Fire Wing focuses on all of the equipment used throughout the Zelda series, with an altar-like setup at the far back for the infamous Master Sword. There will be a huge display of all of the different Masks from Majora's Mask, the various tunics and boots that allow Link to breathe under water or walk on air, and of course the many weapons Link uses throughout each game to defeat his enemies. Each item on display will be presented with its name, what game it is in, and what it does.
The most exciting part of the Fire Wing, however, is the circular "arena" placed right at the entrance to the hall. Here, guests can pick up foam representations of Link's weapons and duke it out one-on-one -- under the watchful eye of a referee, of course. The arena is designed after the dueling arena from Twilight Princess, a sumo-wrestling-esque lowered section of ground.
The most exciting part of the Fire Wing, however, is the circular "arena" placed right at the entrance to the hall. Here, guests can pick up foam representations of Link's weapons and duke it out one-on-one -- under the watchful eye of a referee, of course. The arena is designed after the dueling arena from Twilight Princess, a sumo-wrestling-esque lowered section of ground.
Light Wing
The Light Wing is broken up into four rooms and is dedicated to the many important characters featured in the Zelda series. The first and largest room is lined with touch screens upon which every supporting character is displayed. Guests will touch one character on the screen and a pop-up window will display information on the character, such as what game(s) they were featured in and what role they played.
At the center of the room is a large round touch-screen table where several guests can play a guess-who style trivia game that describes a character and asks the guest to pick who they are talking about. The middle of the table displays an endlessly-updating high score table, much like the old arcade games.
At the center of the room is a large round touch-screen table where several guests can play a guess-who style trivia game that describes a character and asks the guest to pick who they are talking about. The middle of the table displays an endlessly-updating high score table, much like the old arcade games.
The Princess Zelda Room
Beyond that is a room dedicated to Princess Zelda and all of the forms she has taken in each game, from the mysterious Sheik to the pirate Tetra. It explains how her personality has changed in each iteration, her powers, her weapons, and everything there is to know about Hyrule's princess, who will also be represented in several wax figures.
The Hero of Time Room
Finally, the last room at the end of the hallway is dedicated to our hero, Link. Much like Zelda's room, it focuses on how he has evolved over time, both physically and as a character. There will be various wax figures of his many forms, including the non-human forms from Majora's Mask, and a statue of his trusty horse, Epona.
Shadow Wing
The Shadow Wing is dedicated to the fandom of the Legend of Zelda. The walls are covered in framed photographs of fans' artwork, sculptures, digital models, and much more. The Museum takes submissions for this exhibit and changes its featured pieces annually.
Around the corner is a small movie theatre in which guests can view several short fan-films (also sent in by fans and updated annually) that take place in the Legend of Zelda universe.
Around the corner is a small movie theatre in which guests can view several short fan-films (also sent in by fans and updated annually) that take place in the Legend of Zelda universe.