INDIANAPOLIS — In 1922, Howard Carter, a famous archeologist, was searching in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings for a new mummy.

His work crew accidentally stumbled upon a staircase, which led down beneath the hot Egyptian sands. After excavating the area, Howard came upon a sealed door bearing the name of Tutankhamun.

Carter made a hole just large enough to a stick a candle through.

“What do you see?” asked Carter’s associate, Lord Carnarvon.

“I see wonderful things,” Carter replied.

Inside the tomb was a wealth of treasures. Statues, gilded beds, golden sandals, canopic organ jars, and beautiful jewelry all heaped upon one another inside the tomb of King Tut.

That November day, Carter made one of the most important discoveries in Egyptian history, perhaps the world. Now, many of the objects he recovered are on display at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

“This is really a gift to the people of Indianapolis and to the state of Indiana,” said Dr. Jeffrey Patchen, President of the Children’s Museum. “Because we helped set up a Children’s Museum in Egypt for Suzanna Mubarak, the Egyptian First Lady, we were able to get this exhibit nearly gratis.”

Thanks to that working relationship, the Children’s Museum did not have to pay the $4 million fee to Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities that other cities have to pay.

“This is an exhibit we would not be able to afford,” Patchen said. “Indianapolis is not a sprawling metropolis like the other cities this exhibit will visit, so it reinforces how important international relations really are.”

Zahi Hawass, the secretary general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, worked with the Children’s Museum and National Geographic to bring the exhibition to Indy.

“People like mysteries, and they like magic, and I think King Tut has both,” said Hawass. “In this exhibit you will learn about Egypt, you will learn about Howard Carter, and you will learn about excavations. Some of my babies are in this exhibit.”

Often referred to as the Golden King or by his full name, Tutankhamun, the ancient celebrity is the main feature of the exhibit. Fifty of the treasures come from his tomb but the exhibit also features other relics from different time periods in Egypt.

“These treasures of Egypt are among our greatest collection of the past,” said Kathryn Keane, the director of traveling exhibitions development for the National Geographic Society. “This exhibit is terrific; they provide an immersive environment for kids while also being interesting for adults.”

Visitors can stroll through years of Egyptian history, read informational placards and listen to an audio guide while they view more than 100 authentic relics of ancient kings and pharaohs.

Golden statues, glittering jewelry, beds and ceremonial canopic jars that were used to hold body organs are all on display. There’s even a unique cat sarcophagus and an ancient latrine.

The museum also debuted an exhibition called “Take me there: Egypt” which will run in conjunction with the Tut exhibit. “Take me there: Egypt” is a kid-friendly, hands-on museum attraction that allows children to experience what real life is like in modern day Cairo, the capital of Egypt.

“This reinforces what we are really all about, that the Children’s Museum is for both kids and adults,” Patchen said. “We want everyone to realize that our people and the people of Egypt have much more in common than not.”

The exhibition will be at the Children’s Museum until Oct. 25. The exhibit first went to San Francisco and will head to Toronto. Indianapolis is the second city in America to host the Tut collection, and many of the items on display have never been in America before.

“This exhibit helps bring about awareness of our collective past,” Keane said. “Egypt is over 3,000 years old and is one of the oldest and most beloved cultures. Their art really is spectacular.”

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The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N. Meridian St., is hosting “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” through Oct. 25.

Hours: Friday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Opening times change in August however, so consult the museum box office for new times.

Tickets: $25 for adults and $23 for seniors Monday through Thursday, $30 for adults and $27.50 for seniors Friday through Sunday, and kids under 17 are always $15. Children ages two and under are free.