The Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato Touring Exhibition to Make Southwest U.S. Debut in Dallas on May 27

Exhibition Features 36 Accidental Mummies on Loan From the Museo de las Momias de Guanajuato

DALLAS, May 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- They were miners, fathers, soldiers, farmers and children. They are revered by their descendents and have been visited by millions. They are rare, shocking ... and completely accidental. Now, they are making their Southwest U.S. debut in The Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato exhibition.

The Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato is a 10,000 square-foot exhibition that will open at the West End Market Place in Dallas on Friday, May 27, for a limited engagement.

Featuring 36 accidental mummies on loan from the Museo de las Momias de Guanajuato, the exhibition combines science, history and cultural anthropology to immerse the visitor in the world of a Mexican city over 100 years ago where deceased residents naturally mummified in their crypts. This will be the very first time these mummies have been seen in the Southwest United States.

"The mummies are part of the heritage and culture of the State of Guanajuato. The exhibition showcases the sciences, traditions and beliefs of the State of Guanajuato, located in the heart of Mexico. Please visit the beautiful State of Guanajuato," said Consul General Juan Carlos Cue-Vega.

"These mummies have attracted millions of visitors to Guanajuato and it is an honor to bring them to Dallas," said Kevin Prihod, President & CEO of the Detroit Science Center. "This exhibition presents a unique look into Mexican culture, forensic science and the very lives of these amazing mummies. It is an experience not to be missed."

Unlike bodies that were "artificially" mummified through an embalming and wrapping process, accidental mummies form only in certain climates and conditions. Local legend held that the bodies in Guanajuato became mummified because the area's water is rich in minerals and sulfur. However, researchers believe that the hot weather warmed the crypts and dried out the bodies. The Guanajuato collection is believed to be the largest group of mummies anywhere in the Western Hemisphere.

Visitors to the exhibition will meet some of these accidental mummies, learn about life in their thriving community, discover the modern-day forensic technology that helps scientists analyze them, and explore a culture that reveres and celebrates them. Each mummy will tell his or her own story, with facial reconstructions completed by a forensic artist to give insight into their lives.

"Through full-body CT scans at Oakwood Imaging Center (Dearborn, Mich.), along with recent x- rays and endoscopic examinations conducted by mummy experts Jerry Conlogue and Ronald Beckett of Quinnipiac University, we have made new and exciting discoveries about the mummies featured in the exhibition. We look forward to sharing our findings with Dallas visitors," said Vivian Henoch, Medical Science Content Developer for the exhibition.

The Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato is a highly educational exhibition, meeting multiple objectives found in the National Science Education Standards for grades 5-12. A complete educational guide including classroom activities, historical fun facts, a glossary and more is available to school groups visiting the exhibition.

Tickets are $15.95 for adults, and $13.95 for seniors (60+) and children (2-12). The exhibition will be in Dallas from May 27 – Sept. 5, 2011.

The Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato is produced by Detroit Science Center Design & Exhibits at Eekstein's Workshop, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Detroit Science Center that creates captivating, durable, engaging exhibits and displays for museum and corporate clients.

The Detroit Science Center is Michigan's largest hands-on museum. Its mission is to inspire its visitors to pursue and support careers in engineering, technology and science. It is currently touring two national traveling exhibitions – The Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato and Diabetes: A Deeper Look. The Science Center is the official home of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and FIRST in Michigan, and it operates the Detroit Children's Museum. For more information, please call 313.577.8400 or visit the website, http://www.detroitsciencecenter.org.  

SOURCE Detroit Science Center