(Central TX) – The treasures from Egypt’s legendary boy king land in Cedar Park at the Texas Museum of Science & Technology (TXMOST) for a limited time. Central Texans can get their first glimpse of the classic exhibition at the Gala Opening on November 11th for members and special guests, which will feature special remarks from city dignitaries and TXMOST Executive Director Torvald Hessel, followed by the Grand Opening to the public on Saturday, November 12th.
The spectacular traveling exhibition provided by The Origins Museum Institute vividly brings to life the enigmatic, opulent age of 18th Dynasty Egypt. Ten years in the making, from the artisans of the Pharaonic Village in Egypt and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this dazzling collection of reproductions of Tutankhamun’s “wonderful things” recreates the richest archaeological find of all time.
“This Tutankhamun Exhibition has been on a nonstop national tour since its inaugural opening two decades ago,” says Marty Martin, The Origins Museum Institute’s CEO and curator. “Last year TXMOST’s Executive Director and its Director of Collections Management secured that the upcoming Special 20th Anniversary Exhibition of this widely attended collection would be held in Cedar Park and the Austin Metro Area. TXMOST has spared no expense to bring this blockbuster attraction to the Hill Country for this special occasion.”
Accompanied by a lively text, 131 replicas of the pharaoh’s sacred and personal possessions along with associated artifacts from the period surrounding Tutankhamun’s reign reconstruct both the historic discovery of the tomb by Howard Carter and the life and times of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. The exhibition includes such spectacles as the golden Canopic Shrine, the pharaoh’s magnificent state chariot, the iconic golden mummy case, his throne, child’s chair, embalming couch, bed, jewelry, spectacular funerary mask, and the bejeweled royal mummy.
Elegantly displayed on pedestals of simulated Egyptian granite, the artifacts are grouped in 5 chambers according to aspects of the pharaoh’s life: an introductory hall, the hall of the Discovery, the Private Pharaoh, the Public Pharaoh, and the Sacred Burial. This spellbinding exhibition is accompanied by a haunting score of ambient music, especially composed to evoke the timeless mystery of the ancient tomb.
Ticket prices range from $12 - $18 and will now include admission to the 8000 square feet Tutankhamun exhibition, TimeWalk, and unlimited Planetarium shows.
Visitor Information
TXMOST hours are Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Friday & Saturday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online at www.txmost.org or at the box office. Tickets are $18 for adults (18+), $16 for seniors (62+), students (18+ with student ID), and youth (12-17), and $12 for children aged 5-11. Admission price includes all the exhibits as well as the planetarium. Museum members receive unlimited museum visits and free access to special events all year long. To reserve a group visit please contact groups@txmost.org or school groups can contact fieldtrip@txmost.org; or call 512-961-5333. TXMOST is located at 1220 Toro Grande Dr., Cedar Park, TX 78613.
About the Texas Museum of Science & Technology: The Texas Museum of Science & Technology (TXMOST) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to elevating interest, understanding and participation in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for the Central Texas community; developing and implementing educational outreach programs and resources; and creating Austin’s first science museum, planetarium and technology center. For almost 13 years, TXMOST was known as the Austin Planetarium, traveling around the central Texas area with a mobile planetarium doing shows, events, and outreach programs. In March 2015, they set up an interim facility in Cedar Park and opened the doors with their first exhibit Body Worlds. They have since hosted Space City and Nikon Small World, and are currently hosting the TimeWalk exhibition, where visitors can journey from the deep past of the Precambrian Era, through the Jurassic, into the Holocene Period. For more information, visit www.txmost.org.
