Guests will explore the largest collection of mummies ever assembled
The largest collection of real mummies and related artifacts ever assembled is coming to the Saint Louis Science Center. Opening to the public on Feb. 6, Mummies of the World: The Exhibition features more than 125 real mummies and artifacts from across the globe, providing a window into the lives of people from every region of the world and offering unprecedented insights into past cultures and civilizations. The exhibition will enthrall guests with dramatic displays of the mummies and their personal stories, as well as state-of-the-art multimedia stations that will take visitors on a 4,500-year journey to explore the mummies’ history and origins as well as how they were created.
“People are captivated by mummies on many levels,” said Andrea Durham, chief officer for science and education for the Saint Louis Science Center. “We are excited to bring Mummies of the World: The Exhibition to our guests to share the science behind the various ways mummification happens, as well as the stories behind each of the mummies featured in this exhibition.”
Through modern science, Mummies of the World: The Exhibition demonstrates how the mummification process takes place and highlights real advances in the scientific methods used to study mummies, including Computed Tomography (CT), ancient DNA analysis and radiocarbon dating, all of which allow researchers to answer questions about the lives, history and cultures of the mummies. Who were they? Where did they come from? And what can they teach us?
The exhibition features a group of fascinating mummies and artifacts on loan from 12 world-renowned museums, organizations and collections coming from five countries, including:
* The Vac Mummies, a mummified family from Hungary believed to have died from tuberculosis
* The Baron Von Holz, a German nobleman found tucked away in the family crypt of a 14th century castle wearing his best leather boots
* An Egyptian priest named Nes-Hor, who it was determined had arthritis and a broken left hip
* The Burns Collection, a group of medical mummies used to teach anatomy in the early 19th century
* Egyptian animal mummies, including a falcon, a fish, a dog and a baby crocodile, many of which were deliberately preserved to accompany royals for eternity
* MUMAB, the first modern-day replication of Egyptian mummification done on a body in 2800 years
“We are excited to be bringing Mummies of the World: The Exhibition to the great city of Saint Louis,” commented Jason Simmons, Exhibitions Director of IMG, producer of Mummies of the World: The Exhibition. “The Saint Louis Science Center, one of the most esteemed museums in the US, is an institution we have a long-standing partnership with and the utmost respect for. This is an exhibition their constituents and the entire community will love. With engaging galleries that highlights modern science, Mummies of the World will completely transform visitors’ perception of mummies and mummification, while providing insight into the lives and cultures of these ancient people.”
Mummies of the World: The Exhibition will be open during the Science Center’s public hours. Current hours are: Monday and Thursday through Saturday, 9:30am to 4:30pm; Sunday, 11am to 4:30pm; closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. The exhibition is open through Sept. 6. Tickets are now on sale online at slsc.org, by calling 314.289.4424 or by visiting one of the Science Center’s box offices. Science Center members enjoy discounted tickets.
Due to city health guidelines, the Science Center is operating at a reduced capacity. Reservations are not required but are recommended. Reservations can be made at slsc.org or by calling 314.289.4424. The safety of our guests and team members is of the utmost importance to us. To learn about our advanced safety measures, please visit slsc.org/exploresafe.