If you grew up wishing you could be a tomb-raiding archeologist like Indiana Jones, now you can share your childhood dreams with your own kids. Learn all about the mysteries of the world’s most famous boy king and his treasures at the new King Tut exhibit at the California Science Center.
photo: Shahrzad Warkentin
The Pharoah’s Golden Treasure
It’s been 100 years since King Tut’s tomb was first discovered, but there’s nothing old about this magical new exhibit. Of the over 150 artifacts on display, 60 pieces have never traveled outside of Egypt before, so even if you were lucky enough to see some of the pharaoh’s treasure at previous exhibitions there’s plenty of new things to see. The exhibit, KING TUT: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh, is also the final world tour for Tutankhamun’s artifacts, so you’ll never get to see this experience, this close to home, again. The remains will make their way back to Egypt where they will be permanently housed at the New Grand Gyptian Museum in Cairo.
photo: Shahrzad Warkentin
The Exhibit: Part One
The exhibit begins on the third floor. Even with the timed entry, expect to wait in line for a few minutes in order to enter the first room. This is a good chance to discuss with inquisitive kids, like who was King Tut and what’s a mummy? Parenting Pro Tip: Brush up on your trivia before you arrive. Once you enter the exhibit, there is a 6-minute movie about the discovery of Tutankhamun and the history of this amazing discovery.
photo: Shahrzad Warkentin
With a little more knowledge, head into the larger of the two exhibit halls. As you wind your way through the dim gallery, glinting gold artifacts discovered in the tomb, like small and large statues, jewels, intricately detailed boxes, weapons, and more will delight eyes young and old. The centerpiece that will take your little explorer’s breath away though is a model of King Tut’s body covered in the golden ornamentation that dressed his mummified body.
photo: Shahrzad Warkentin
The Exhibit: Part Two
Before you enter the second gallery, you can stop for a photo to commemorate the occasion. Thanks to the green screen you’ll get a family picture with King Tut to take home for $15. Inside the second half of the exhibit, you’ll learn more about the history of tomb exploration and how King Tut’s final resting place was discovered after years of searching.
photo: Shahrzad Warkentin
Don’t miss the science lesson of how they used technology to learn more about Tutankhamun’s life and cause of death. Little STEM-lovers will get a kick out of seeing a real mummy’s x-ray. The final awe-inspiring stop on your tour is at the foot of a towering statue that once stood at the entrance of his tomb. At the end of the exhibit, there is a special gift shop filled with Tut-themed souvenirs that you won’t find in the regular museum shop.
photo: Shahrzad Warkentin
Know Before You Go
King Tut is currently the hottest ticket in town and selling out daily. If you don’t want miss out, purchase your timed entry tickets well in advance of the date you plan to go. While the golden artifacts are sure to wow all that visit no matter what age, we recommend this exhibit for kids 5 and up to get the most out of the experience.
Older kids will especially benefit from the audio tour (which can also be pre-purchased in advance) and will give them a better understanding of each item.
No food or drinks are allowed in the exhibit or re-entry, so fuel up on snacks before you head in. Double-strollers are also not allowed inside the exhibit, but if you can, leave the stroller at home as the galleries get very crowded and are hard to navigate throughout the museum.
KING TUT: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh is open now through Jan. 6, 2019.
Cost: $29.95 for adults; $19.50 for kids 4-12. A $2 service fee is applied per ticket.
Parking at the California Science Center is $12 or take the metro which stops right in front of the museum.
California Science Center
700 Exposition Park Drive
Exposition Park
Online: californiasciencecenter.org/exhibits/king-tut-treasures-of-the-golden-pharaoh
Are you planning on visiting King Tut before he returns to Egypt? Let us know in the comments below!
—Shahrzad Warkentin
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