Tickets on Sale Now for Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs at the Science Museum of Minnesota

Museum celebrates ticket sales launch for the first visit of King Tut's treasures to Minnesota with installation of 26-foot Egyptian god statue on Landmark Plaza

ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 23, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Science Museum of Minnesota has officially launched ticket sales for the upcoming Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs exhibition, opening February 18, 2011. With more than 100 authentic artifacts from the tomb of the celebrated pharaoh and other notable ancient sites, the exhibition will be the largest in the Science Museum's history and represents the first time King Tut's treasures have visited the region.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101123/DC07193)

To celebrate the ticket sale kickoff today, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman joined representatives from the Science Museum, Arts and Exhibitions International and cultural partner Northern Trust in erecting a 10- ton, 26-foot tall statue of the Egyptian god Anubis [uh-NEW-bis] on Landmark Plaza in downtown St. Paul.

"From The Dead Sea Scrolls to the Body Worlds exhibit, the Science Museum has a history of bringing world class exhibits to Saint Paul, and having our city be the first in the Upper Midwest to host the Tutankhamun exhibition continues that trend," says St. Paul mayor Chris Coleman.

Anubis, a protective ancient deity that serves as the ambassador for the exhibition, will reside in downtown St. Paul this winter, paving the way for the exhibition's treasures and greeting visitors to Wells Fargo WinterSkate, the St. Paul Winter Carnival and other downtown St. Paul events and destinations.

"The King Tut exhibition presents a landmark opportunity to experience some of the world's most phenomenal treasures without having to trek across the globe," says Mike Day, senior vice president of the Science Museum of Minnesota. "Because of the huge demand for this exhibition in other cities where it's appeared, we're offering visitors the chance to buy their tickets ahead of time to ensure they can attend on the date and time they want, and it's a great time to consider tickets for holiday gift giving."

Ticket information

Tickets for Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs range from $16 to $30 (ticket price includes admission to the King Tut exhibition and the Science Museum's permanent exhibit galleries). Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs, a giant screen film that takes viewers to the royal tombs of Egypt, will run in the Omnitheater beginning February 18, 2011. It explores the history of ancient Egyptian society and serves as the perfect extension to the exhibition experience.

Detailed ticket information, including packages and pricing, is available at www.smm.org/tut/tickets.  Proceeds from the tour will go toward antiquities preservation and conservation efforts in Egypt, including the construction of a new grand museum in Cairo.

As with past exhibits, admission to Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs will be timed and dated; visitors will be given the opportunity to choose a specific date and time for their visit when they purchase tickets. Purchasing tickets in advance will ensure that they will get to see the exhibition on the date and time that best suits their schedule.

Visitors may purchase tickets in one of the following ways:

1.  Online at www.smm.org. This 24-hour ticketing option provides visitors with the opportunity to print out their tickets at home, thereby avoiding any lines at the Box Office on the day of their museum visit.  A per-ticket reservation fee will apply.

2.  Via phone at (651) 221-9444.  Callers can reserve tickets with a credit card during regular Call Center hours (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.).  A per-ticket reservation fee applies. Visitors who purchase their tickets by phone may pick up them up at the Box Office on the day of their visit.

3.  In person at the Box Office during regular museum hours.

About Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs

At 16,000 square feet, Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs will be the largest exhibition in Science Museum history. Featuring more than 100 stunning artifacts from the tomb of the celebrated Boy King and other notable ancient sites, the exhibition will give Science Museum visitors a glimpse inside the ancient Egypt they learned about in school, exploring the mystery and intrigue of this fascinating time period. Visitors will witness the splendor of the pharaohs, learn about their function in both the earthly and divine worlds, and discover how they prepared for the afterlife.

The exhibition's final galleries are dedicated to King Tut's famous tomb, including an area devoted to its discovery by British explorer Howard Carter in 1922. Visitors will see legendary artifacts displayed in four galleries according to where they were located in the tomb's four rooms.

The exhibition is organized by the National Geographic Society, Arts and Exhibitions International and AEG Exhibitions, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities.

Northern Trust is a proud cultural partner of the tour, and American Airlines is the official airline.

"For 120 years, Northern Trust has recognized the value of providing our communities with enriching cultural and educational experiences, such as this exhibition on invaluable treasures from ancient Egypt," says Northern Trust Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frederick H. Waddell.  "We are privileged to support an event that brings to Minnesota unique insights into our shared human history."

The Science Museum of Minnesota serves more than one million visitors each year with its hands-on exhibits, breathtaking giant screen films, special events, and unparalleled education programs. It is located at 120 West Kellogg Boulevard in downtown St. Paul. For specific directions, parking information, hours, show times and ticket information, call (651) 221-9444 or visit www.smm.org.

Images from Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs are available for download at www.smm.org/media. For access to exhibition b-roll, contact Sarah Imholte at 651-221-9412 or simholte@smm.org.

SOURCE Science Museum of Minnesota