Kansas City’s Union Station home to great King Tut exhibit

Turns out King Tut did not hail from Arizona. It’s doubtful he had a condo made of stone-a.

But, he does remain a popular tourist attraction. That was evident by the large number of people visiting the exhibit at the Kansas City Union Station.

“The Discovery of King Tut: His Tomb. His Treasures” opened a couple of weeks ago and runs until September.

The items may be reproductions but they look so original. I may or may not have asked a museum staff member that question.

King Tutankhamun was a boy pharaoh. He served from age 8 until his death at 19.

After he died, his successor removed the names of the leaders before him. He had names removed from statues and anywhere else they may have been displayed. Insecure much?

So, Tut was buried and then forgotten. He lay supposedly undisturbed for almost 3,500 years, before a British “archeologist” discovered his tomb. Howard Carter worked as an archaeological draftsman in Egypt. He was more of an artist in his early days, according to the records.

He lost his job when he defended Egyptian guards from French tourists.

Considered a failure at a young age, he yearned for success in the field. He had previously heard of King Tut and believed his tomb could be located.

He eventually found funding and headed back to the digging.

The exhibit starts with an interesting short film on the history of King Tut and Carter’s discovery.

The first part of the exhibit follows the dig and discovery.

Behind a see-through curtain, visitors listen as the narrator explains what the excavation team found in the tomb…

Inside the tomb, they found a room with artifacts, including three sleigh beds with designs, egg-shaped food storage items for his travel into the afterlife, and other golden items.

Carter’s crew did discover what turned out to be King Tut’s tomb. It had been ransacked by tomb raiders earlier, so no one was sure what they would find.

What they ended up finding made history! King Tut, himself.

Apparently, Tut was buried inside four burial chambers, each smaller than the other.

Once they penetrated the fourth chamber, a stone sarcophagus protected three coffins. The first coffin contained the second coffin. Inside the second coffin was the smallest coffin, which contained King Tut.

King Tut’s mummified body had a golden mask over his face.

After the burial site section, visitors move on to a large display room.

Here, you see reproductions of the burial chambers and coffins. They look so real.

His mask is on display.

Items that were common for the day are displayed: chairs and ottomans with ornaments, figurines, jewelry and weapons.

I liked a chariot that was on display.

As we left, we saw a mummy coffin against the wall in the gift shop. Lisa had to pose with it.

The exhibit is $19.95 per adult and is worth the price of admission.

I found the exhibit fascinating. Lisa was gaga over it.

We both recommend it.

For more information, please visit the Union Station website at http://www.unionstation.org/

Disclaimer: Thanks to the Kansas City Visitors and Convention Bureau and Union Station for the complimentary tickets. However, all opinions and views are ours.