Travel Tidbits--Museum Moves

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

26 Oct 2007 10:00 PM

Good news for those of you who missed out on the headline grabbing King Tut museum tour. The mega-popular exhibit, which features objects buried with Egypt's King Tutankhamun is returning to the United States next year. It will include three stops, beginning in Dallas.

I was fortunate to be one of the 4 million visitors to take in the "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" exhibit during its two-year, four-city tour. I saw the exhibit in Chicago, but it also visited museums in Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, and Philadelphia before wrapping up a few weeks ago. The exhibit opened in 2005 and millions of history buffs traveled thousands of miles to witness treasures from King Tut's tomb. It was the first time in more than 25 years that contents of King Tut's tomb were shown in the United States so it was no surprise that the exhibit attracted record numbers. The exhibit includes artifacts between 3,300 and 3,500 years old, and gives a glimpse into the life of Tutankhamun and other royals.

When the exhibit opens on October 3, 2008, at the Dallas Museum of Art it will include artifacts that are new to the show and haven't been seen outside of Egypt.

Meanwhile, in Indiana, visitors to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum are getting the chance to take in a one-of-a-kind exhibit as well.

The museum, which is filled with priceless Indy cars, stock cars, sports cars, and passenger cars, is getting a new addition that is making headlines in the racing world. Denny Zimmerman, the 1971 Indianapolis 500 rookie of the year, is donating the car he drove in the finals of the 1954 All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio, to the museum.

The 66-year-old racing champ from Connecticut won a local Derby in Hartford as a 13-year-old in 1954. He went on to compete on the national level, but lost in an early round of the finals at Akron. According, to museum curators, Zimmerman's car will be the only Soap Box car on display at the museum in the infield of the Speedway. Though, museum officials note there are other Indy drivers who have competed in the Soap Box Derby as youngsters including Cale Yarborough, Tom Sneva, George Snider and Eldon Rasmussen. But, the honor of car enshrinement is solely Zimmermann's. His soap box vehicle will now join more than 85 vehicles - some more than 100 years old - on display at the museum.

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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