Pennsylvania: Phildelphia,
See Tutankhamun The “Boy King”.
Make plans to take the kids and go to The Franklin Institute. It will be the field trip of the decade. Where else can you see firsthand the regal artifacts dating from 1550 B.C. and hear more about the mysteries surrounding the boy-king. The final museum venue in the United States will be in Philadelphia where the displays and artifacts will be on view through September of 2007.
Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs is a major “Wow!” for any age.
We had the good fortune to see this amazing exhibition while it was in Chicago. Since Philadelphia is the last stop in the United States, if you can make it to Philadelphia -just do it. The artifacts and the audio stories which match key pieces within the exhibition make ancient Egypt come alive. For school age children it is right on because it will make the story told by Howard Carter even more real. Need to know: Because of popularity the entries are timed to ease crowding. So it is best to decide the ideal time to view the exhibition with your kids before securing tickets.
“Since the discovery of his tomb in 1922, Tutankhamun has captured the hearts of people around the world. Buried with him were treasures beyond the imagination, giving us a glittering glimpse into the past,� said Zahi Hawass, secretary general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities and director of the Giza and Saqqara Pyramids. “It has been almost 30 years since the golden artifacts of the boy-king last left their home in Egypt. Now Tutankhamun is back, giving a new generation the chance to learn firsthand about the life and magic of this ancient monarch.�
See the royal stuff. The exhibition will include 50 major objects excavated from Tutankhamun’s tomb, including his royal diadem — the gold crown discovered encircling the head of the king’s mummified body that he likely wore while living — and one of the gold and precious stone inlaid canopic coffinettes that contained his mummified internal organs.
Remember Howard Carter?
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than 70 objects from other royal graves of the 18th Dynasty (1555 B.C.-1305 B.C.) will be showcased as well, including those of pharaohs Amenhotep ll and Thutmose lV and the rich, intact tomb of Yuya and Tuyu, parents-in-law of Amenhotep lll and great-grandparents of Tutankhamun. Yuya and Tuyu’s tomb was the most celebrated historical find in the Valley of the Kings until Howard Carter discovered Tutankhamun’s undisturbed burial chamber in 1922. All of the treasures in the exhibit are between 3,300 and 3,500 years old.
A friendship mission. “Egypt’s ancient treasures are among the world’s greatest cultural legacies, and we’re delighted that U.S. audiences will have an opportunity to view some of the most important artifacts from Tutankhamun’s tomb and other famous sites,� said Terry Garcia, National Geographic’s executive vice president for mission programs. “The exhibit, which builds on National Geographic’s long and valued relationship with Egypt, will further promote cultural understanding between our two countries.� Revenue generated from the world tour will go toward preserving Egypt’s treasures and building a new Grand
Museum in Cairo.
New technology unveils secrets. The exhibition will draw visitors back in time with inventive design and innovative technology, allowing viewers to explore and experience the world of King Tut. They will come face to face with this contemporaries, see and hear about the fascinating times in which the young king lived and learn how his short reign changed history. The exhibition also will feature National Geographic images and film footage about the golden age of the pharaohs.
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, The Franklin Institute. (February 23, 2007 – September 30, 2007) The all new facility has eight new, interactive, theme-based, state-of-the-art exhibits, as well as new theater venues. Exhibits include The Franklin Air Show, The Sports Challenge, Space Command, The Train Factory, the Fels Planetarium, and The Giant Heart. Located in the heart of Philadelphia, The Franklin Institute is a nationally
respected pioneer in the development of interactive science exhibits.
Bonus points: Within the exhibition halls Mobile Communicators bring science to life.
The dynamic science educators have answers and surprises for visitors. It’s really interactive and fun.
(Franklin Institute Science Museum,222 North
20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1194. 1(215) 448-1200 orwww.fi.edu)
National Geographic has published a companion book to the exhibit. “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs� by Zahi Hawass will feature the fabulous artifacts found in Tutankhamun’s tomb and treasures of other 18th-Dynasty pharaohs. For more information on the exhibition, please visit
www.nationalgeographic.com/tut or
www.KingTut.org
About National Geographic.Founded in 1888, the National Geographic Society is one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations in the world. It reaches more than 280 million people
worldwide each month through its five magazines, the National Geographic Channel, television documentaries, films, books, videos and DVDs, maps and interactive media. National Geographic has funded more than 7,500 scientific research projects and supports an education program combating geographic illiteracy.
www.nationalgeographic.com
About Arts and Exhibitions International. A private company founded in 2003 AEI currently produces the award-winning exhibition “Diana: A Celebrationâ€? in association with the Althorp Estate in the United Kingdom. Norman and Numhauser have nearly 40 years combined experience in the entertainment and exhibition business, working over the years on such projects as “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibitâ€? and “Saint Peter and the Vatican: The Legacy of the Popes.â€? The company has relationships with the most important museums in the world and has presented traveling exhibitions on four continents. For more information, log onto www.artsandexhibitions.com
More Vacation Ideas
Pennsylvania: Valley Forge, Family Vacation Ideas.
Every 10-year-old makes the connection between Valley
Forge and George Washington so visiting Valley Forge is a bonus for families because there is no need to explain why the place is important. Kids love to feel the power of knowing and sharing important stuff. What is less well known is that the area surrounding this patriotic place offers many vacation activities for families. From living history vignettes or live theatre to
milking a cow or petting a goat, days can be filled with easy paced fun, long lines and traffic jams not included.
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Pennsylvania: Valley Forge, Hike Bike or Fly a Kite.
Horseback riders gallop across the rolling hillsides and splash through streams at Valley Forge National Historical Park. Bicyclists pedal hard up the hills and zip down, past rows of cannon and monuments to the American Revolution. Mothers wheel baby carriages along the paved paths; couples picnic on the grass under flowering dogwood trees; and children duck in and out of huts, imagining they’re soldiers in George Washington’s Continental Army.
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Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, “Get the Scoop on Pop.� Fish do it, frogs do it, eagles and elephants do it. Yet poop is something many people find hard to discuss with a straight face. The Scoop On Poop, from now until May 13, 2007 at The Academy of Natural Sciences, is a tactful blend of science and fun that leads visitors on an investigation of what poop is and how animals and people use it.
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Content and images
provided by National Geographic Society. 11/2005
National Geographic, King Tut, Family Vacation, Tutankhamun, tomb, Pennsylvania, Phildelphia, Boy King, museum, artifacts, Valley Forge, George Washington, American Revolution
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