Trumbull County Historical Society has the keys to the future home of a National Science Fiction and Fantasy Museum, set to feature around 500 creations by prop designer John Zabrucky.

Zabrucky graduated from Warren Harding High School in 1965 before moving to California and starting his own design company, Modern Props, Inc. There, he worked on a number of iconic films and tv shows, from Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan (1982) to Batman Returns (1992).

Trumbull County Historical Society Executive Director Meghan Reed says the goal of the museum is to draw in tourists from around the country to visit Warren, and learn about its history.

"We're very excited that science fiction and fantasy are much more in the mainstream now," Reed tells 21News. "It's very much more a part of our pop culture now than it was 40 years ago, and we feel very hopeful that we're opening this museum at a time in our cultural history that this will be something that a lot of people can connect to."

One particular draw for visitors could be one prop nicknamed "the most important device in the universe," because of its frequent appearances in science fiction movies.

"It's been in over 200 movies and tv shows, from Star Trek to Airplane," Reed says of the prop.

The museum project is in the early stages of planning for renovations and exhibit design, with an opening estimated for 2026.