BOSTON — Mayor Tom Menino announced today that the Robinsons, a family of four, has been rescued after what turned out to be a 20-year-long visit to the Museum of Science.

"Normally when groups of people reenter society, the first thing we must do is introduce them to new scientific advances," said Menino at a press conference. "But these four have been fortunate enough not to be lost in a jungle, or a forest or any other conglomeration of trees — they were lost in the Museum of Science, an institution created to report the latest technological advances to the public. They know about the microwave oven. They know about the Hubble Telescope. They know about human anatomy — not that it’s changed all that much in the past 20 years — but still, they know about it."

"And," Menino added, putting his hand on the daughter’s shoulder, "young Karen here knows what her voice really sounds like."

Addressing the press, clan father Will Robinson recounted their experience. "At first we thought it would be fun to find out things like what made an ocean wave wave or why the Tyrannosaurus Rex had such funny front legs …"

"And I really enjoyed finding out what it’s really like in space," interrupted his son Bobby, who turned 26 last month and will be returning to the seventh grade next fall.

"Yes, son," the elder Robinson said. "It was fun to find out, for the first six years or so. But after that we all agreed that we wanted to go home. The only problem was that even after all we had learned, the museum’s layout proved too confusing for us and we were trapped within the museum’s walls. Trapped like Rattus Norwegici."

"One time I saw someone leaving the museum and I knew it was the exit because I could see the sun through the open door," remembered the daughter, Karen, "but by the time I found everyone else I had forgotten where the door was. If only I realized I would’ve gone outside and asked a policeman, just like my father always told me. But I forgot! I’m sorry, daddy!"

Forgotten in recent years, the family’s plight was well known in the 1970s, thanks to public service announcements put out by the museum. "Those spots were great publicity," said Jeremy Feinstein, Museum of Science spokesman. "Not only did we show that we cared about families lost in the museum, but the Robinsons also made it look like fun! Normally, families who are lost in the museum become violent. Often the son will call the father out to challenge his authority as leader of the clan, but not young Bobby."

Now that the Robinsons have been rescued, they plan to continue their tour of Boston next week by visiting the Boston Tea Party ship. "Let’s see how long that takes," said Will, crossing his fingers.