Marking 100 years since the discovery of King Tut’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings, Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience will be open in four cities across North America, bringing the incredible story of the ancient pharaoh to life in new ways. Created in partnership with the National Geographic Society, the stunning exhibition takes visitors on a time-traveling journey flooded with sight, sound and intrigue through the world of King Tut—the boy who reigned as pharaoh of Egypt more than 3,000 years ago—and the 1922 discovery of his tomb and treasures that has captured the imagination of the world ever since.
Beyond King Tut guests can explore nine galleries that chronicle the historic discovery, the king’s life and family, and a voyage to the afterlife in the following locations:
- New York City: Pier 36 (through Jan. 1, 2023)
- Los Angeles: Magic Box LA (through Dec. 31, 2022)
- Washington D.C.: National Geographic Museum (through Feb. 6, 2023)
- Canada: Vancouver Convention Center (through Jan. 8, 2023)
Beyond King Tut visitors will meet Ancient Egyptian gods like Ra and Anubis, descend into King Tut’s burial chamber, join his quest for immortality and relive the discovery of the king’s tomb with all his treasures waiting inside, reclaimed from the desert sand after 3,000 years. With nine galleries to explore on the multi-sensory, multimedia journey, guests will wind through the story of a young boy whose name still looms large and how he changed the ancient – and modern – world. This exhibition goes beyond a traditional artifact display using the power of photography and technology, ensuring that the artifacts from King Tut’s tomb remain in their country of origin.
“The National Geographic Society has a legacy of funding projects relating to ancient and modern Egypt. As we approach the 100th anniversary of King Tut’s tomb discovery, Beyond King Tut gives visitors a chance to explore his story in ways they’ve never experienced before,” said Kathryn Keane, vice president of public programming and National Geographic Museum director for the National Geographic Society.
Produced by Paquin Entertainment Group, Beyond King Tut is developed in association with Immersive, whose creative team draws from extensive experience creating and marketing cultural content worldwide including the King Tut artifact exhibitions attended by more than 19 million guests. Under the creative direction of Montreal’s world-renowned Normal Studio, Beyond King Tut harnesses projection mapping and new technologies to create stunning visual environments that invite visitors to leave the modern world behind and glimpse an ancient time like never before. Beyond King Tut has aligned with The American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE), whose mission is to study and safeguard Egypt’s cultural heritage, to highlight digital Egypt-related content, develop programming and promote educational outcomes.
Exhibition guests can opt to delve deeper into the tomb discovery via an award-winning companion virtual reality (VR) experience making its North America debut in a dedicated VR theater. “Tutankhamun: Enter the Tomb” gives the feeling of flying through the underground chambers and seeing the treasures as they were when they were discovered in November 1922. The eight-minute VR journey is voiced by lauded English actor Hugh Bonneville and created by CityLights, a leader in premium VR content.
“Beyond King Tut tells a story 3,300 years in the making, going beyond the iconic mask to bring people into his world in new ways and larger than life – guests will get to know the young boy who suddenly became pharaoh, see stunning imagery of his treasures that are now enshrined in Egypt, journey to the ancient Egyptian afterlife, and feel the thrill of discovery,” said Beyond King Tut creative producer Mark Lach.
Ever since the sensational discovery of King Tut’s tomb 100 years ago, influences from his world have made their way into the global consciousness across art, fashion, décor, architecture, entertainment and beyond. As King Tut’s legacy continues to enthrall people around the world, guests of all ages can explore his story at Beyond King Tut as the tour continues across North America with more cities to be announced.