Thirty years have passed since the "Treasures of Tutankhamun" blockbuster exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1979.

The first U.S.'museum blockbuster' which ran from 1976-1979 was the "Treasures of Tutankhamun" which I was fortunate to have seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 1979.
Fift-five artifacts, including the priceless gold mask were included.

It all began in 1974 when American president Richard M. Nixon discussed with Egyptian president Mohamed Anwar el-Sadat the possibility of bringing the artifacts to the U.S. It was a collaboration that would bring good will between both countries.

Some of the proceeds from the first King Tut show were to help with the expansion of the Cairo Museum.

A second show would be organized by National Geographic that ran from 2005-2007. Costing the host institution millions of dollars to house the exhibition, one wonders if the $30. entrance fee would be prohibitive.

Click on the link below to read my article, "King Tut Exhibit - From Art to Science Museum" to learn more about the second show.

The third exhibit, "King Tut and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" will be at the Discovery Times Square Exposition, one of the most exciting locations in New York, with a run from 2010-2011.

There will be ten galleries with one hundred and thirty artifacts on display.
Seventy of the objects are from the tombs of Tutankhamun's relatives.
Fifty artifacts will be from King Tut's burial objects.

One of the four gold and precious stone inlaid canopic coffins that contained the king's mummified organs will be on display and will most likely be the highlight of the show.
In the 1979 exhibition, the funerary gold mask was undoubtedly the favorite.

When you click on the link to kingtutnyc.com you can preview portions of the exhibiton rooms and you will be able to purchase a Golden ticket or a VIP experience online.

If you purchase the Golden ticket in advance, you will save 10%.
The cost of this ticket is $38.25 and you will need to select a time that is best for you to enter the exhibit. There is a time allowance of ninety minutes.
Also included in the entrance fee is a Mummies 3-D movie that runs for fourteen minutes. Entrance to the movie is on a first come, first serve basis.

The VIP experience ticket sells for $75 and includes a 'front of the line' VIP exhibition ticket, one audio tour and one movie ticket for the Mummies in 3-D.

"This show expands the historical horizon of the groundbreaking BLOCKBUSTER exhibition" - The New York Times (2010)

If you missed the "Treasures of Tutankhamun" exhibit in New York in 1979, and the first run of "King Tut and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs," then you won't want to miss seeing it this time around. It may be your last opportunity to see artifacts from King Tut's tomb outside of Egypt.

Some of the proceeds from this exhibit will go towards building a new museum, the Great Egyptian Museum, to be located near the pyramids. It seems the Cairo Museum has become too small for their extensive collection of artifacts.

Be sure to read my other article on the boy king, "King Tut Exhibit - From Art to Science Museum."
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art51256.asp

This is the companion book to the exhibit "King Tut and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" sponsored by National Geographic.