‘Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs’ Opens June 27 at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS, June 26 /PRNewswire/ — Doors will open tomorrow for “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs,” a touring exhibition featuring more than 100 authentic artifacts from the tomb of the celebrated pharaoh King Tutankhamun and other ancient Egyptian sites. The exhibition will be on display at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis from June 27 to October 25, 2009, its first Midwest showing following the U.S. premiere in Atlanta. Most artifacts in the exhibition have never visited the U.S. prior to this tour.

“Tutankhamun’s magic still captures the hearts of people all over the world, even though more than 85 years have passed since the discovery of his amazing tomb,” said Zahi Hawass, secretary general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities. “America has welcomed the golden king, and now he is bringing with him all the great pharaohs of Egypt. This exhibition will raise much-needed funds for the preservation of Egypt’s monuments and the construction and renovation of museums throughout the country. I always say that Egyptian antiquities are the heritage of the world and that we are only their guardians.”

The exhibition is organized by National Geographic, Arts and Exhibitions International and AEG Exhibitions, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities. A portion of the proceeds from the tour will go toward antiquities preservation and conservation efforts in Egypt, including the construction of a new grand museum in Cairo.

“We have a longstanding partnership with Dr. Zahi Hawass and with Her Excellency Suzanne Mubarak, the First Lady of Egypt, and we are thrilled that collaboration has led to the incredible opportunity for Indianapolis to host this world-class exhibition and welcome the treasures of King Tut,” said Dr. Jeffrey Patchen, president of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. “We look forward to welcoming people of all ages to our institution for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The exhibition features an audio tour and National Geographic video documentary, both narrated by award-winning actor, Harrison Ford.

“Egypt’s ancient treasures are among the world’s greatest cultural legacies,” said Terry Garcia, executive vice president, National Geographic Society. “Even with the great wealth of research that already exists, new technologies continue to open up the past in ways never imagined. Visitors to this exhibition will not only see stunning artifacts spanning 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history, but they will also learn more about the life and death of Tutankhamun through recent CT scans conducted on his mummy.”

Teachers throughout the state of Indiana and beyond have a unique opportunity to teach a new generation about King Tut and ancient Egyptian history with financial assistance from Lilly Endowment, Inc., which has generously provided The Children’s Museum with a grant that will enable the museum to provide nearly 98,000 free tickets for teachers and their students. These free tickets are available to school groups on a first-come, first-served basis by registering at www.ChildrensMuseum.org.

To further the exhibition experience for students, The Children’s Museum has created Units of Study with customized lessons created in conjunction with the exhibition for students in grades 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. These materials are available free of charge at www.ChildrensMuseum.org. Designed to supplement class trips and curriculums, these materials let students become “Curious Egyptology Investigators” (CEI), using the strategies of Egyptologists and archeologists to discover clues and reveal learnings about the lives and customs of Egyptian royalty.

Northern Trust is a proud cultural partner of the tour, and American Airlines is the official airline.

“Corporate citizenship has been a focus at Northern Trust since our founding in 1889. We are proud to uphold this legacy by supporting important initiatives that promote cultural education and awareness,” said Frederick H. Waddell, president and chief executive officer of Northern Trust Corporation. “We look forward to sharing this inspiring educational experience with the local community and visitors from around the world.”

“American Airlines is thrilled to have a role in bringing ‘Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs’ to Indianapolis,” said Dan Garton, executive vice president of marketing for American Airlines. “As the official airline of the exhibition, we are pleased that American Airlines is helping to make it possible for these extraordinary objects to be seen by thousands of visitors.”

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

On display from June 27 through October 25, 2009 at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” features striking artifacts from some of the most important rulers throughout 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history, from the 4th Dynasty into the Late Period (about 2600 B.C. – 660 B.C.). Derived from a variety of contexts, including temples and royal and private tombs, most of these artifacts had never visited the United States prior to this tour.

Tutankhamun was one of the last kings of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty and ruled during a crucial, turmoil-filled period of Egyptian history. The boy king died under mysterious circumstances around age 18 or 19, in the ninth year of his reign (1323 B.C.).

The exhibition includes more than 50 treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb presented alongside artifacts representing other important pharaohs and notables, along with the latest scientific research about King Tut. The storyline focuses on the splendor of the Egyptian pharaohs, their function in the earthly and divine worlds, and what kingship meant to the Egyptian people.

Four galleries devoted to King Tut correspond to the four rooms of his nearly intact tomb, where the treasures were discovered by British explorer Howard Carter in 1922. Legendary artifacts from the antechamber, the annex, the treasury and the burial chamber include Tutankhamun’s golden sandals, jewelry, furniture, weaponry and statuary.

A special area features CT scans of Tutankhamun that were obtained as part of a landmark, Egyptian research and conservation project, partially funded by National Geographic, that will CT-scan the ancient mummies of Egypt. The scans were captured through the use of a portable CT scanner, donated by Siemens Medical Solutions, which allowed researchers to compile the first three-dimensional picture of Tutankhamun and discover more about his life and death.

“Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” is the second National Geographic exhibition dedicated to the remarkable treasures of King Tutankhamun and ancient Egyptian royalty. The other exhibition, “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs,” opens June 27, 2009 at the de Young museum in San Francisco.

TICKET AND VISITOR INFORMATION

Information and tickets to the exhibition at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis can be found at www.kingtut.org or Ticketmaster (www.Ticketmaster.com or 1-877-TUT-TKTS (877-888-8587)). Tickets are also available in person at the museum box office. Advance reservations are strongly recommended to secure desired date and time, which must be selected at time of purchase. The exhibition will stay open for 90 minutes past the last ticket. Tickets for groups of 10 or more are available at 1-866-LA-GROUP (866-524-7687). More information is available at www.kingtut.org or www.ChildrensMuseum.org.

    The exhibition will be open during the following times:
      --  June 27 - Aug. 1
            --  Sunday - Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.*
            --  Friday - Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
      *Special Thursday Hours:  July 2 from 4 - 8 p.m.
      --  Aug. 2 - Oct. 17
            --  Sunday - Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.*
            --  Friday - Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
      *Special Thursday Hours:  Aug. 6, Sept. 3 and Oct. 1 from 4 - 8 p.m.
                                Aug. 20, Sept. 17 and Oct. 15 from 4 - 8 p.m.
                                 (ADULTS ONLY)
      --  Oct. 18 - Oct. 25
          --  Sunday - Thursday from 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
          --  Friday - Saturday from 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

    From Sept. 14 through Oct. 19, Monday's will be reserved for school
    groups only (9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.).

On weekdays (Mondays – Thursdays), ticket prices are $25 for adults and $23 for seniors age 60 and over. On weekends (Fridays – Sundays), tickets are $30 for adults and $27.50 for seniors. Tickets for youth ages 2-17 are $15 on any day, and children ages under 2 are free. A companion audio tour narrated by award-winning actor Harrison Ford will also be available for an additional charge.

Hotel packages including VIP tickets that do not require pre-reserved times and dates are available at www.kingtuthotels.com.

About The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a nonprofit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. The 472,900 square-foot facility houses 11 major galleries. Visitors can explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures, the arts, see how dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago in Dinosphere: Now You’re in Their World(R), experience Dale Chihuly’s Fireworks of Glass and examine children’s impact in shaping history in The Power of Children: Making a Difference. The Children’s Museum, situated on 20 acres of land in Indianapolis, presents hundreds of programs and activities each year. For more information about The Children’s Museum in English and Spanish, visit ChildrensMuseum.org.

    CONTACTS:
    Donna Lolla,                          Laura Calliari,
    Indianapolis Children's Museum        Arts and Exhibitions International
    317-334-4003 / 317-363-9840 (cell)    424-247-8619 / 310-941-8780 (cell)
    DonnaL@ChildrensMuseum.org            laura@artsandexhibitions.com

SOURCE AEG Exhibitions