King Tut’s tomb explored at OMSI

Discover how this new exhibition will give you the thrill of being an archeologist discovering the crypt of Pharaoh Tutankhamun …

In addition to guests seeing how the antiquities looked when they were discovered, the burial treasure of King Tut is also laid out and explained in detail at this new exhibition at OMSI.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Now through January, visitors are invited to “Step back in time” and experience the amazing discovery of King Tut’s tomb at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).

Entitled “The Discovery of King Tut”, this newly-opened traveling exhibit

is filled with some 1,000 objects – reproductions of the burial treasure of teen-aged Pharaoh Tutankhamun, who died more than 3,000 years ago.

Here’s a glimpse at how King Tut’s antechamber looked, upon its discovery, nearly a century ago.

Don’t let the word “reproductions” dampen your enthusiasm for seeing this exhibit, which covers a large portion of OMSI’s main exhibition area.

“These are exquisite reproductions that possess the beauty and detail of the originals, which are held in the Egyptian Museum of Cairo – allowing our guests to enjoy treasures without any harm to the fragile originals,” remarked OMSI President Nancy Stueber about the collection.

After a brief video introduction to the exhibition, guests begin to explore the replica artifacts, with the aid of explanatory graphics, video productions, and a personal “audio guide” keyed to each display.

OSMI Featured Hall Assistant Manager and Educator Jennifer Powers tells about the “nested” shrine of King Tut.

“What’s unique about this exhibition is that when you come in, you see exactly how the chambers looked when they were discovered by Howard Carter in 1922; that helps you understand the process involved in unraveling and uncovering this find,” explained OSMI Featured Hall Assistant Manager and Educator Jennifer Powers, while leading a preview tour.

Then, standing before an actual-size replica of the outer “shrine” in which King Tut was found buried, Powers pointed out that it contains two additional inner shrines nested inside.

This exhibit shows King Tut’s shrines that were “nested”, one inside another.

Guests can see the exquisite beauty of the king’s sarcophagus, and inner coffins.

“Inside that third shrine was his sarcophagus, inside were more coffins – so, King Tut had a lot of layers around him when he was buried, all beautifully crafted in wood and gilded in gold,” Powers told East Portland News.

“The King Tut exhibit helps fulfill our mission at OMSI, because we want to encourage curiosity and get excited about all fields of science that are here to explore at the museum,” Powers said.

To help him fight or flee in the afterlife, King Tut’s tomb contained armor, and a gold-covered chariot.

To vividly relive what some call the most significant archaeological find of the 20th Century, see “The Discovery of King Tut”, on display now through January 27.

Tickets to view this exhibit are in addition to OMSI’s general museum admission. For hours and ticket prices, see their official website: CLICK HERE. Or, visit OMSI, located at 1945 SE Water Avenue, 97214.

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