Ancient Maya Live Again at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

DENVER, March 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The largest exhibition about the ancient Maya ever to be displayed in the United States is running from February 14 to August 24, 2014 at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed uses a combination of never-before-seen artifacts, hands-on activities and immense walk-in environments to explore the rise, accomplishments and eventual decline of the ancient cities of the Maya.

At their height, the Maya developed an incredible system of roads and built huge cities filled with gigantic stone temples. They developed astronomy, created one of the world's most accurate 365-day calendars, conceived a new system of mathematics and invented a hieroglyphic form of writing. They were even able to make rubber and invented one of the world's first team sports -- a popular ball game that involved putting a rubber ball through a ring. It was a game that could literally mean life, or death, for the team players and the fans, as the losers were often sacrificed.

Highlights of the exhibition include a colorful, full-scale frieze that once surrounded the top of El Castillo pyramid at Xunantunich in Belize. Visitors will be able to stand under a starry sky to learn astronomy as the Maya did, or peek into a sacred cave that served as a portal to the underworld. Interactive stations let you lift the heavy rubber ball of Maya games, or take photos of yourself to see how you'd look wearing the clothes and jewelry of Maya nobility.

The exhibition is the first in the new Anschutz Gallery, which is located in the Museum's new 126,000 square foot addition, the Morgridge Family Exploration Center. The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the fourth largest museum in the U.S., and has the most paid memberships of any museum in the world.

HOTEL PACKAGES FOR MAYA

Some of downtown Denver's best hotels are offering great hotel packages for Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed that include hotel stays and amenities as well as two VIP tickets to the exhibition that allow front-of-line access for the exhibition.

Grand Hyatt Denver - Package includes hotel stay, plus hotel valet parking. Starting at $195.

Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center - Package includes a visit to the hotel's Altitude Restaurant, where you'll receive a complimentary bottle of Canvas wine with the purchase of two dinner entrees. Starting at $195.

Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel - Package includes hotel stay and parking. Starting at $181.

The Oxford Hotel - Package includes hotel stay, parking and a room upgrade based on availability at the time of check-in. Starting at $215.

Brown Palace Hotel & Spa - Package includes hotel stay, 10 percent off in the DMNS gift shop and deli, plus in-room amenity.

All packages are based on availability and may not be combined with other offers.

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Celebrating more than 100 years of promoting the Mile High City, VISIT DENVER is a nonprofit trade association that contracts with the City of Denver to market Denver as a convention and leisure destination, increasing economic development in the city, creating jobs and generating taxes. A record 13.6 million visitors stayed overnight in Denver in 2012, generating $3.6 billion in spending, while supporting nearly 50,000 jobs, making Tourism the second largest industry in Denver. Learn more about Denver on the VISITDENVER website and at TOURISMPAYSDENVER, on Twitter @visitdenver and the VISIT DENVER Facebook page, or by phone at 800 2 DENVER.

With press or photo inquiries, please contact:
Rich Grant: (303) 571-9450 or [email protected]
Debbie Park: (303) 571-9451 or [email protected]
Sarah Welch (303) 571-9418 or [email protected]

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SOURCE VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau