'Beyond King Tut' opens June 9 in Jacksonville. Here's what you need to know.
A taste of old Egypt comes to Jacksonville this month when "Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Show" opens at the NoCo Center downtown. It's an immersive show put together with cooperation from the National Geographic Society, using projection technology to flash enormous moving images onto the floors and walls of the main hall, similar to the "Beyond Van Gogh" show that ran earlier this year in the same venue.
Here's what you need to know about the show.
What is the "Beyond King Tut" show?
It is an "immersive" experience, in which moving images from Tutankhamun's life and journey to the afterlife are projected onto the walls and floors of a room specifically designed for the purpose. It is similar to the "Beyond Van Gogh" show that played in the same space earlier this year.
Is "Beyond King Tut" all in one room?
No. Visitors to "Beyond King Tut" will travel through eight galleries, tracing Tutankhamun's life and his journey to the afterlife and learning about the mummification process and the preparation of the burial chamber. The main gallery features a 23-minute loop of images projected onto the walls, floors and people. A separately ticketed virtual-reality "Beyond the Tomb" experience is also available.
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Where is "Beyond King Tut" exhibit in Jacksonville?
It is at the NoCo Center, a former First Baptist Church auditorium at 712 N. Hogan St. in downtown Jacksonville.
How long will "Beyond King Tut" be in Jacksonville?
The show opened Friday, June 9, and is scheduled to run through Sept. 3.
The "Beyond Van Gogh" show was extended several times during its Jacksonville run, and it would not be surprising to see "Beyond King Tut" extended as well.
What are the hours for "Beyond King Tut" in Jacksonville?
The exhibit is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. The show is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. No one will be admitted less than an hour before closing.
How much are tickets to "Beyond King Tut" in Jacksonville?
Tickets start at $33.99 for adults and $24.99 for kids aged 5-15 and are sold in specific time slots. During "peak" hours, rates go to $43.99 for adults and $28.99 for kids. Special rates are available for groups and for students, seniors and military.
How long does "Beyond King Tut" take to view?
The show is self-guided and takes about an hour, but there is no limit to how much time you can spend inside.
Is "Beyond King Tut" wheelchair accessible?
The facility is accessible to those in wheelchairs. No wheelchairs are available for rent. Strollers are also welcome, but there is no dedicated place to store them. There is limited seating inside the venue.
Are there any actual Egyptian artifacts in the "Beyond King Tut" show?
No. The show uses images from King Tut's tomb, but there are no physical artifacts. The Egyptian government has reclaimed artifacts from around the world for the new Grand Egyptian Museum, slated to open late this year.
Is this the first show in Jacksonville to focus on Egyptian relics?
No. "Ramses II: The Pharaoh and his Time" contained artifacts from Pharaoh Ramses II, who ruled Egypt from 1279 to 1213 B.C. More than 370,000 people saw the show when it came to the Prime Osborn Convention Center for four months in 1986-87.
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens also had a show, “Striking Power: Iconoclasm in Ancient Egypt,” in 2020 that featured more than 40 images and statues that had intentionally been defaced after the subjects' death as a sign of disrespect.
Where else has "Beyond King Tut" shown?
"Beyond King Tut,” which was put together with the help of the National Geographic Society, made its debut in 2022 — the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Tut’s tomb — in New York and Boston. The show has also played in Los Angeles, Vancouver and Washington, D.C., and is scheduled to play in Atlanta and Hartford, Conn., later this year.
What other immersive shows does the company produce?
The Tut show was created by Paquin Entertainment Group, the same company that put together the Van Gogh show. The company also has a "Beyond Monet" show available and at least two others — "Dinosaur Discoveries" and "Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N." — in development.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Beyond King Tut in Jacksonville: What you should know about the show
