King Tut Exhibit...Reviews?

[Jill- OK]

How many of you have seen the King Tut: Golden Age of the Pharoahs exhibit? Thoughts? Worth a three-hour drive?

 

I'm thinking of making this a weekend trip to Dallas this fall (we're studying Ancients, and I'd be interested, anyway), but I'm wondering if the three-year-old and Dad might be better off staying at the hotel pool. :-)

 

So, my questions are...worth it, in your opinion, for the money? Young-child-friendly, or no? (Other kids besides the three-year-old are six, seven, and two teens)

 

If any of my homeys from Dallas aren't opposed to a three-hour drive for Ancient Art Opportunities, I also wanted to mention that the Roman Art from the Louvre is in OKC (about half an hour west of me), for its last U.S. stop. We're excited!

 

Anxious to hear y'alls experiences...

 

(ETA: I should modify the "Is it worth a three hour drive?" part, because this isn't all we would be doing. It would be a big part of it, though.)

[Amy loves Bud]

Well, I've never seen it before, but we have tickets for 10/24 if you'd like to have lunch or a diet coke at the museum. I'd love to meet you IRL!

 

EDIT: When is the Roman Art exhibit in OKC?

[Robin Hood]

We drove 5 hours when my girls were 7. One of them and I loved it. The other ~ well, I should have left her behind. She almost ruined our trip and everybody else in the rooms we were in until another mom stepped in and said that she had seen enough and would take her outside. About 12 hs families made a field trip out of it and while most raved about the entire trip, there were plenty who would not take certain members of their families, me included. It was a mixed review.

 

My child who hated it is very sanguin and if it wasn't not about her, nobody wasn't going to have fun. She couldn't handle the quietness and had no interest in history. I am happy to say that at 9.5 she is growing out of that. Take that for what its worth.

[Harriet Vane]

My kids did well with it also. However, we do a lot of museum trips (we live in a city with lots of museum opportunities) so my kids are acclimated to museum touring with Mom. They are also trained to wait patiently while Mom reads every single placard or informational tidbit. I do allow my kids to bring a sketchbook and colored pencils--it helps.

[Michelle T]

We went a couple years back, so he would have been around ten at the time. It was incredibly crowded, so it was quite challenging to actually get up and SEE anything. You couldn't linger, because the press of the crowd swept you along.

 

DH went too, and the two of us enjoyed it, but it was just very boring for DS.

 

I wouldn't drive a long distance unless you have a history-loving child, or one with direct interest in ancient Egypt.

Michelle T

[Jenny in Florida]

We drove from Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale--coincidentally, just about three hours--to see it. We planned a weekend around it, actually. It was well worth it for us. We spent most of the day in the exhibit and enjoyed it very much.

 

Now, I do have to say that my daughter is a long-time Egypt fan. So, the exhibit may have been especially meaningful to her. And this wasn't the first time we had planned a vacation around an Egyptian exhibit. Two years before, we went all the way to Washington, D.C., for another one.

 

I suspect it might be a bit much for the three year old, unless he/she is especially interested in such things. (My daughter was.) When we went, it was also quite crowded, so a young child might find it unpleasant and tough to see much.

 

But, yes, I definitely think it's worth the drive.

 

In fact, I didn't know it was still touring until you posted this. However, since my son and I are cycling back around to the ancients this year, I just put in a request for a certificate to buy tickets for the Atlanta run. Since I have to make several trips a year from Florida to Virginia, my son and I are going to make the detour through Atlanta and go see it again.

[Ferdie]

I saw it in LA and thought it would be worth a three hour drive, especially if you had other things in Dallas planned. Spend the extra money to get the audio tour because it really added to the experience and helps keep the kids occupied. I took my 5 year old with me and really regretted. He is kind of ADHDish and so I went through much quicker than I would have without him. My 6 and 8 year old did fine and I am glad they got to see it. Also, my MIL lent us a book about the King Tut artifacts which we looked at before we went. The book had beautiful pictures so my kids recognized many of the artifacts in the exhibit from the book so I think that really helped keep them engaged.

 

It wasn't really young-child friendly, but in LA they did a great job controlling the crowds so I had no problem watching my older two while in the exhibit. Outside the exhibit in another part of the building they had a wonderful children's area set up with things to explore and crafts pertaining to ancient Egypt. I don't think there was a fee or you needed tickets so if they have the same set up in Dallas that would be a great place for your dh to entertain your younger kids so you and your teens could spend a longer time enjoying the exhibits.

 

We are living in Dallas and starting ancients again this year so I can't wait to go again. I love ancient artifacts!!

[homeschoolmom]

....and loved it.

 

Our wiggle-worm DD, then 8.5, had studied the ancients the previous year and was very 'into' the Ancient Egyptians and King Tut. We did the audio tour and recommend it.

 

It is a lot to take in and I suspect most younger children will be very bored as it won't really click how awe-ispiring these artifacts and their preservation are. For kids with an interest in the Ancient Egyptians, however, it's a must do.

 

I would definitely not bring a three year old but perhaps I'm just a wimp. ;)

[HollyinNNV]

How many of you have seen the King Tut: Golden Age of the Pharoahs exhibit? Thoughts? Worth a three-hour drive?

 

I'm thinking of making this a weekend trip to Dallas this fall (we're studying Ancients, and I'd be interested, anyway), but I'm wondering if the three-year-old and Dad might be better off staying at the hotel pool. :-)

 

So, my questions are...worth it, in your opinion, for the money? Young-child-friendly, or no? (Other kids besides the three-year-old are six, seven, and two teens)

 

If any of my homeys from Dallas aren't opposed to a three-hour drive for Ancient Art Opportunities, I also wanted to mention that the Roman Art from the Louvre is in OKC (about half an hour west of me), for its last U.S. stop. We're excited!

 

Anxious to hear y'alls experiences...

 

(ETA: I should modify the "Is it worth a three hour drive?" part, because this isn't all we would be doing. It would be a big part of it, though.)

 

I think that this is the one I saw in LA a few years ago. It is worth the money. I would not take my 3 year old. I'd probably just take my teens in all honesty.

 

Our experience was that you wait in line to go in. You have a little recorder to listen to information about the different pieces in the exhibit. The pieces are for the most part amazing from the standpoint of "how did this last so long?" Even with having people enter in a staggered format, it is still very, very crowded and very close. You have to be patient to enjoy the exhibit.

 

I highly recommend it.

Holly in N NV

[Michelle in MO]

over Labor Day weekend a couple of years ago, and it was very good. It was held at the Chicago Field Museum, and the artifacts were stunning.

 

I don't know if you're seeing the exact same exhibit, but the exhibition did not have the famed sarcophagus of King Tut; nevertheless, there were plenty of other very exquisite things to see to make time and effort spent going there well worth our while.

[Andie]

over Labor Day weekend a couple of years ago, and it was very good. It was held at the Chicago Field Museum, and the artifacts were stunning.

 

I don't know if you're seeing the exact same exhibit, but the exhibition did not have the famed sarcophagus of King Tut; nevertheless, there were plenty of other very exquisite things to see to make time and effort spent going there well worth our while.

 

We saw it in Philly (a bit over a 5 hour drive for us, then) last spring. Leo and Eleanor (3 and not quite 2) didn't go, and I think that was a good call. The Bigs (then a couple of months from turning 9/11/13) loved it. With the exception of the very last room (where several field trips were "stalled" waiting for the rest of their group) the exhibit wasn't crowded on the weekday that we went. We had plenty of time to listen to each part of the audio tour, and really look at most all of the exhibit.

 

Have fun!

[Jill- OK]

Well, I've never seen it before, but we have tickets for 10/24 if you'd like to have lunch or a diet coke at the museum. I'd love to meet you IRL!

 

EDIT: When is the Roman Art exhibit in OKC?

 

I PM'd you.

 

The Roman exhibit is here now...I think it will be here until Nov., but I'll have to double check.

 

Anyone who comes up (down, over, etc.)...send me a message! I'd love to offer directions, or any other input about the city you might need.

[Jill- OK]

I took my 5 year old with me and really regretted.

 

...about the 5yo. My 3yo is used to museums, but I'm sure that he (and my husband, lol), will be better off doing something else.

[Jill- OK]

I think we're going to do it.

 

The three-year-old and dad will likely stay at the hotel, or go do something else (or little guy will stay with Grandma), but I think it will be worth it for the rest of us.

 

Thanks for all the tips and BTDT advice...it's appreciated! Keep it coming, if you have more!