HOUSTON –The nationally recognized Mummies of the World: The Exhibition makes its debut at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Sept. 24. Described as “fascinating, intriguing, and inspiring,” by NBC, “absolutely extraordinary,” by NPR and “a must see,” by FOX TV, Mummies of the World instills a sense of curiosity and wonder in each and every visitor. Having been visited by over 1.5 million people nation-wide, Mummies of the World: The Exhibition is one of the most popular museum exhibitions traveling North America.

“This exhibition showcases a tremendous collection of real mummies from different parts of the world and different periods as well,” said Dr. Dirk Van Tuerenhout, Curator of Anthropology at HMNS. “Our common humanity connects us; science helps us to get to know them better. That is what makes this show so amazing.”

Come face to face with the largest exhibition of real mummies and related artifacts ever assembled. The special exhibition provides a window into the lives of ancient people from every region of the world including Europe, South America and Ancient Egypt, offering unprecedented insights into past cultures and civilizations.

Inside every mummy is a story waiting to be told. Through modern science and technology, their secrets are now revealed. Mummies of the World tells the story of the mummies and mummification through state-of-the-art multimedia, hands-on interactive stations and cutting-edge 3-D animation taking visitors on a 4,500-year journey to explore the mummies’ history and origins as well as how they were created, both through natural and intentional practices.

The show 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 learn 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 5 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
• The Burns Collection, a group of medical mummies used to teach anatomy in the early 19th century
• An Egyptian priest named Nes-Hor whom we have determined had arthritis and a broken left hip
• 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 replication of Egyptian mummification done on a body in 2800 years
• And much more…

“We are excited to be bringing Mummies of the World: The Exhibition to such an esteemed venue.” said John Norman, President of Exhibitions International. “This exhibition has proven to be one of the most popular exhibitions currently traveling the United States and we are confident that Houstonians will be enthralled by the stories behind these mummies from Europe, South America and Ancient Egypt. We say that ‘inside every mummy is a story waiting to be told…’ and mummies of the world tells thousands of years of captivating stories. We invite families from across the state of Texas to come unlock the mysteries of ancient civilizations as modern science reveals their secrets.”

Peek into the lives of ancient people and cultures from every region of the world to learn about past civilizations. What secrets do mummies hold about the past? What clues do they bring us for the future? A journey awaits as we unravel their mysteries in Mummies of the World, which runs through May 29, 2017. For tickets or more information, visit www.hmns.org or call (713) 639-4629.