The U.S. tour of “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs” concluded on February 17 in New York City, where “Tutmania” was unleashed when the pharaoh’s treasures last toured in the 1970s. The reception was just as strong this time around.

In what has become the blockbuster exhibition of this generation, more than 7 million visitors have flocked to see “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs” since 2005, when the exhibition premiered in Los Angeles. It has since traveled to Ft. Lauderdale, Chicago, Philadelphia, London, Dallas,San Francisco, and finally to New York City, captivating people of every age and from every walk of life along the way.

King Tut was a minor king and may have been lost in the pages of history were it not for the discovery of his tomb in 1922 – the only intact ancient Egyptian royal tomb ever discovered. The world was mesmerized with ancient mysteries and untold riches, just as people today continue to be enthralled with the treasures that the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt has so graciously made available to travel to global audiences once more.

“Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs” features artifacts not only from King Tut’s tomb, but also a large array of relics relating to his family and contemporaries, providing a broader context in which to tell his story. It’s fitting then that many of the visitors were multi-generational families – parents bringing their children to share in the wonder they felt decades ago during the last tour.

It is with deep gratitude to all the visitors who have strolled through these golden galleries over the past five years that the U.S. tour concludes. The purpose of ancient Egyptian royal burials was to cause the pharaoh’s name to live in order for him to attain everlasting life. If that’s the case, King Tut should be doing quite well in the afterlife. We at AEI are fortunate to have been part of his enduring legacy.

The tour continues – on to Melbourne, Australia in April 2011.