Mummies of the World at the PPG Science Pavilion for a Limited Time

Published by Jeremy. Last Updated on October 2, 2019.

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Since 2018, the Carnegie Science Center has stepped up its exhibit game with the addition of the PPG Science Pavilion. This new wing not only significantly expanded the museum's footprint but also allowed for national and internationally touring exhibitions to make a stop in Pittsburgh.

One such show is Mummies of the World, a touring exhibition focused on all things mummies and mummification!

This exhibit runs from October 2019 to April 2020, and I was fortunate enough to be one of the first to check it out during a press event a few days before the official opening. In this one, I wanted to share more about what you can see when visiting!

Note: This article contains images of human mummies in various states. A few images could be considered graphic. Likewise, please note that Mummies of the World is a strictly no photography show; however, I was given an exemption during a media preview event for this article.

“Mummies of the World” Comes to Pittsburgh

Mummies of the World at the Carnegie Science Center

In true Science Center fashion, Mummies of the World goes beyond simply showing off mummies. That would be just a bit too easy.

While showing off human and animal mummies from different regions of the world and various eras is a key part of this exhibit, the real highlight to me is something else. This one dives down into the science behind mummification and highlights the different processes that have been found to result in the mummification of bodies.

Shrunken Heads at the Mummies of the World Exhibition

Some of these are the human interaction, like the ancient Egyptian practices for preparing the dead or indigenous tribes shrinking heads.

Preserved Medical Bodies

Some of these are natural formations, like how unique environmental conditions can mummify a body over time. Think conditions such as extreme cold, dry desert heat, to more unique conditions like in a bog or a sealed church crypt!

Human Mummy Embalmed in the 1990s

Other exhibits bridge the gap between all of the topics on display for a deep look into the process of mummification overall.

One such exhibit features a body that was mummified in a laboratory in the early 1990s with techniques thought to be used by the ancient Egyptians. While this is one of only a few mummies covered (likely for privacy purposes for the deceased, who donated their body to science), it is among the most fascinating exhibits on display.

These are just a few of the highlights you'll find at the Mummies of the World exhibit, and overall it really comes together to provide a great view into the science of mummification as well as presenting the human and animal remains from various eras/preservation techniques as well.

While there is far more to see at this particular exhibition, we never like to give it all away. You'll just have to go see it for yourself to learn more!

Timed Entry Tickets Are Sold Separately

Mummy Basket

The touring Mummies of the World exhibit is housed at the PPG Science Pavilion at the Carnegie Science Center in the North Side. As such, a few special conditions are worth noting.

The main thing to keep in mind with this show is that the exhibits at the PPG Science Pavilion are sold on a separate ticket from the rest of the museum and have timed entry. As such, if you are planning on visiting the Carnegie Science Center and hope to see this one, you'll need to make an advance purchase to ensure your desired timeslot is available for the show.

Egyptian sarcophagus in Pittsburgh

The Science Center does sell combination tickets that will let you enter the museum and the Mummies of the World exhibit and is approximately a 20% savings over buying the tickets individually. If you plan to make a day of it, I highly recommend looking into this option when visiting.

Plan your visit accordingly, and go learn about the mummies while they are here!

Mummies of the World will be at the PPG Science Pavilion inside the Carnegie Science Center from October 5th, 2019 to April 2020. The Carnegie Science Center is located at 1 Allegheny Avenue in the North Side. I was a guest of the Carnegie Science Center for a press event for this article. As always, all opinions are my own.

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