The exhibit is titled "World of the Pharaohs," but it does not concentrate on just pharaohs. There are 230 objects covering 3,000 years of Egyptian life. You'll see artifacts ranging from jewelry and tools to sarcophagi and mummies. The goal of the exhibit is to give you a peek inside the life ancient Egyptians.
The "World of the Pharaohs" exhibit groups the artifacts by purpose and theme instead of date. For example, there is a display of jewelry pieces where you can see the progression of the Egyptian craft. There is a hammer and chisel near some of the sculpture work to show you what tools were used to make the elaborate sculptures you see when you first enter the exhibit. There are items of daily life, like a razor, grouped together. This grouping makes the exhibit flow easily through daily life to religion, and all the way to death and the afterlife.
The most impressive part of the exhibit is at the end, where the sarcophagi, canopic jars and mummies are on display. Grouping the items thematically makes a big impact here. The most elaborate coffin dates to 644 - 525 B.C. However, the coffin from the Roman period (~27 BC) holds a vital piece of the story of ancient Egypt. The figures on the coffin are incorrect, you learn from the audio tour, and this is evidence that the culture and skills of Egyptian craftsman were being devalued by the new Roman rulers. This time period marks the beginning of the end of ancient Egyptian culture. The display allows you to contrast the two starkly different examples in the same room.
Is it scary for kids?
I do not think it is "scary" at all. The way things are presented and displayed is very kid friendly. I saw a few elementary aged children when I went and they were unphased. The Arts Center is offering field trips to see the exhibit to local schools. However, no matter how kid friendly they're presented, there are mummified remains in the last room and the exhibit talks a great deal about death. If you have an especially sensitive child, it could be scary. Again, most children will view the display as artifacts instead of something scary.
Is the audio tour worth it?
It was worth it for me, but reading the signage will give you approximately the same information. The audio tour has the addition of a few extra facts and some information from Egyptologist and the curator. That being said, if you just read the signage, I don't think the facts you miss will devalue the experience of the exhibit.
How much (and discounts)?
The exhibit is pricey to get in, but not outrageous compared to other exhibits I've been to. It takes a lot of money, planning and preservation equipment to bring objects from 600 B.C. to visitors.
Regular admission is $22 for adults, plus $5 for the audio tour if you want it. Kids get in for $14. They have packages for families that can save you about $8.
On Tuesdays, you can get in for just $14 from 3-7:30 p.m.
On Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1-3:30 p.m., tickets are $14 too.
How long does it take to get through?
Listening to the audio tour, taking a few notes and reading the signs, it took me a little over an hour to get through the exhibit, so set aside 1-2 hours to get through the whole thing. Even though there are a lot of artifacts to see, the exhibit is expertly planned, flows well and it is housed in the section of the Arts Center that is used to house traveling exhibits (to the left of the entrance). It's not an extremely large area.
Where can I get tickets and pre-visit information?
You can pre-order tickets at the exhibit's website. I've spoken to many people who've visited, and in my experience it has not been necessary to pre-order tickets. If you hit the exhibit when they have a field trip you might be in for a crowd. I went on a Saturday and it was not crowded. For special discount days or holidays, I would pre-order.
They have some pre-visit worksheets aimed at children towards the bottom of the epage.
Hours/Location
Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday - Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
The Arkansas Arts Center is closed to the public on Mondays.
The Arkansas Arts Center is located on 501 E. 9th Street in Little Rock, Arkansas 72202. Google map.
