SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--More than 30 years after the first King Tut exhibition captivated Seattle, the magic and mystery of the boy king returns to the Pacific Northwest with an almost entirely new selection of treasures and more than twice the number of artifacts. In the final U.S. showing of the exhibition that has captivated millions of visitors since 2008, Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs will open at Seattle’s Pacific Science Center on May 24, 2012. This will be the last chance for guests to see authentic treasures of King Tut and the 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history in this exhibition anywhere in the U.S.
Tickets became available for general public purchase today — exactly 89 years after King Tutankhamun’s burial chamber was unsealed and entered for the first time by British archaeologist Howard Carter and his excavation team. The community’s early response has been unparalleled with nearly 40,000 member and group tickets already sold months before the exhibition opens. Among the grandest and most celebrated exhibitions in the world, Pacific Science Center will be the final venue before the treasured artifacts return to Egypt.
“Pacific Science Center is proud to bring King Tut back to Seattle after more than 30 years,” said Bryce Seidl, president and CEO for Pacific Science Center. “No exhibit in the history of Seattle created more powerful and indelible memories than the 1978 King Tut exhibition. Now Seattle has the honor of hosting the final opportunity outside of Egypt for anyone to experience the power, beauty and mystery of this remarkable exhibition and its window into history. Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs is an exhibit rich with history and culture; it tells the story of one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time.”
The exhibition features more than 100 artifacts from the tomb of King Tut and ancient sites representing some of the most important rulers throughout 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history. Most of these artifacts have never been on display in the United States before this exhibition.
Come face-to-face with the largest image of King Tut ever unearthed – a 10-foot-statue of the pharaoh found at the remains of the funerary temple of two of his high officials. See authentic objects from King Tut’s tomb including jewelry, furniture and statuary, as well as the boy king’s golden sandals – created specifically for the afterlife and were covering his feet when his mummified remains were discovered by Carter. An extraordinary gold death mask that covered the head and chest of the mummy of King Psusennes I will also be showcased along with artifacts belonging to some of ancient Egypt’s most powerful rulers, such as Khufu, whose face adorns the Great Sphinx and who built one of the Great Pyramids, the only remaining structures of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
New scientific discoveries continue to provide insight into King Tut’s legendary life and death. The exhibition features a 3D replica of King Tut’s mummy, which has never left the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, as well as the first CT scans of the young king’s mummy obtained as part of a landmark Egyptian research and conservation project, partially funded by the National Geographic Society. The majority of proceeds from the tour support the preservation and conservation of antiquities and monuments in Egypt, including construction of the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza.
Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs is organized by National Geographic and Arts & Exhibitions International, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities. Northern Trust is a proud cultural partner. American Airlines is the official airline of the exhibition. The exhibition in Seattle is sponsored by Seattle's Convention & Visitors Bureau.
As part of the total experience, and in addition to an audio guide narrated by award-winning actor Harrison Ford ($6), Pacific Science Center will feature two IMAX® films: Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs, and Mysteries of Egypt. Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs takes audiences on a journey to the royal tombs of Egypt, exploring the history of ancient Egyptian society as told through the mummies of the past. A National Geographic film, Mysteries of Egypt, transports audiences to a distant time and place where the Nile River Valley cuts an emerald swath through the desert sands. Both films are free for members.
For further information and ticket details please visit kingtut.org or pacificsciencecenter.org. Discounted tickets for Pacific Science Center members and groups of 10 or more are available. Groups interested in purchasing tickets can call 206-443-3611. The exhibition runs through Jan. 6, 2013.
About Pacific Science Center
Located under the arches near the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center serves approximately one million guests on site and more than 300,000 students, teachers and families throughout Washington state each year. As the Science Center approaches its 50th anniversary on October 22, 2012, the institution is as committed as ever to serving the community and being an engine for creative and critical thinking for the Pacific Northwest. Pacific Science Center began as the United States Science Pavilion during the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. Millions came to explore the wonders of science during the World's Fair and upon closing ceremonies, the Science Pavilion was given new life as the private not-for-profit Pacific Science Center, becoming the first U.S. museum founded as a science and technology center. On July 22, 2010 Pacific Science Center was declared a City of Seattle Landmark. Pacific Science Center is committed to providing accessibility for all guests. For detailed information about our facility and services, please visit pacificsciencecenter.org
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To download artifact images, visit National Geographic’s FTP site:
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press
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