The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis: Fit for a King

Today we have a guest post from Jenni Ingersoll.

If a king was coming to visit my house, I am sure I would be in a whirlwind of preparations.  Such is the case of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.  After months of construction, reconstruction and improvements the world’s largest children’s museum is set for the arrival of the king – King Tut that is.

A new exhibit, Tutankhamum: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs will open at The Children’s Museum on June 27th and run through October 25th, 2009.  Over 130 treasures from the tomb of the “Boy King” and other important rulers from 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history will be on exhibit.  Many of these splendid objects have never been seen in the United States.

The wonder of the Egyptian pharaohs, their purpose in the earthly and divine worlds, and what their rule meant to the people of Egypt will be the focus of the exhibit.  Among the powerful leaders whose artifacts will be displayed:

• Khefren – whose great pyramid remains among the seven wonders of the ancient world
• Hatshepsut – the queen who became king
• Psusennes I – owner of a golden death mask
• Tutankhamum – the boy king who died under mysterious circumstances around the age of 18 or 19 during his ninth year of reign, in 1323 B.C.

Of the 11 major galleries located within The Children’s Museum, four will be devoted to King Tut.  Each will correspond to the four rooms of his tomb – the antechamber, the annex, the treasury and the burial chamber.

The legendary treasures, discovered in 1922, will include Tutankhamun’s golden sandals, jewelry, furniture, weaponry, one of four canopic jars inlaid with gold and precious stones and CT scans of Tut’s mummy.  Among the statuary will be the largest image of King Tut ever found, a 10-foot statute that retains much of its original paint.

A timed-entry ticket must be purchased in combination with General Admission to the Museum, and specifies a 30-minute entry window for admission to the exhibit. Once inside the exhibition, visitors may stay as long as they wish within normal business hours.  Purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended to ensure entry for a preferred date and time. Check information for exhibit hours and ticket prices.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a nonprofit facility committed to enriching the lives of children as it enhances their natural curiosity and love of learning.   Through its dedication to the areas of physical and natural science, history, world cultures and the arts, The Children’s Museum is a place to interact and learn.  The Museum has been a favorite place of mine to visit since I was a child and a place I love to take my children.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is located at 3000 North Meridian Street in Indianapolis.

Jenni Ingersoll shares her love of all things Disney, writing at The Disney Traveler for PlanetEye.

Photo credit: Valerie Everett @flickr