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By Tricia O'Connor, Exhibit Developer
How do you make an exhibit about three amazing archaeological sites around the world?
First, get a great partner
We partnered with the National Geographic Society, which allows us direct access to staff like Susan Norton, director of the National Geographic Museum in Washington, DC. She and her staff review our exhibit ideas and help connect us with experts and resources at NGS and around the world.
Second, pick amazing archaeological sites
With help from NGS and some of our most important advisors – YOU – we chose the following sites:
• The tomb of Pharoah Seti I – it’s the longest, most beautifully decorated tomb in the Valley of the Kings;
• The Caribbean shipwreck of the Cara Merchant – the flagship of alleged pirate, Captain William Kidd;
• The Terra Cotta Warriors – over 8000 life-size warrior statues guard the tomb of China’s First Emperor.
Third, travel the world
OK, this was a pretty good part of the list. TCM staff traveled to all three of these sites and got a first-hand view from key archaeologists working at each site. Personally, I got to descend the darkened ramp into the ancient tomb of Seti I in Egypt, and I snorkeled down to the Cara Merchant shipwreck site near an island in the Dominican Republic. Other staff traveled to the impossibly huge Terra Cotta Warriors site in Xi’an, China. Pretty cool!
Fourth, work with experts!
We’re working with an international team of experts, including Dr. Zahi Hawass, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities; NGS Archaeology Fellow Dr. Fred Hiebert; renowned Egyptologist Dr. David Silverman; and Underwater Archaeologist Charles Beeker who’s leading the investigation of the Cara Merchant shipwreck site.
And that’s just the beginning!
So follow along as I share how we’re Makin’ it Real with National Geographic’s Treasures of the Earth, and watch as our team transforms this bare gallery into an exhibit over the next several months.
