ideas from several Museum departments and collections, 

 and are intended to present sequential topics in dramatic 

 and memorable form. 



Tfie emphasis is on displaying collections, conveying 

 information, and stimulating thought. The settings are 

 carefully designed environments that include controlled 

 lighting, sound, and climate. While they reflect the 

 strengths of Field Museum collections, they also make use 

 of models, dioramas, media, simple interactive devices, 

 and provocative labels. 



The first major thematic exhibit. Inside Ancient Egypt, 

 opened to the public November 1 1 , 1988. The Museum's 

 extraordinary collection of Egyptian artifacts, assembled 

 by Edward Ayer over a number of years beginning in 1 894, 

 has been arranged to tell the story of everyday, court, and 

 after life during more than 3,000 years of dynastic rule. 

 Beginning with a walk through two of the actual rooms from 

 the mastaba of Unis-Ankh set in a replica of the original 

 tomb complex, the visitor climbs to the roof, then de- 

 scends the thirty-five-foot burial shaft to the looted burial 

 chamber below. Other highlights of the exhibit include a 

 Nile marsh diorama with living papyrus and a working sha- 

 duf, or water-lift; a rare funerary boat; a village shrine to the 



One of several hands-on activities in the new permanent exhibit, 

 Inside Ancient Egypt. Here, visitors try the stiaduf. or water-lift. 



Field Museum Attendance 

 1983-1988 



1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 



cat goddess Bastet; a lively marketplace; and twenty- 

 three actual mummies, whose wrappings were specially 

 conserved for this appearance. 



The second major exhibit, on the Pacific Islands, is 

 scheduled to open in two parts in 1989 and 1990; a third, 

 on Africa, is in the planning stages; Museum staffers have 

 been consulting African and African-American communi- 

 ties in the Chicago area for their ideas on what might make 

 this exhibit more meaningful and powerful. 



Resource Centers 



Occupying the outermost ring of public spaces, but im- 

 mediately adjacent to the thematic exhibits, resource 

 centers afford the intrigued casual visitor or advanced 

 user an opportunity for concentrated, in-depth, and de- 

 tailed exploration of the Museum's collections. In comfort- 

 able, informal, library-like spaces with lots of seating and 

 natural lighting from windows that open onto the park, visi- 

 tors have access to study collections, educational kits, 

 books and periodicals, photo archives, videotapes, re- 

 cordings, and computer databases. Helpful staff and 

 volunteers facilitate access to resources both at the Field 

 Museum and at other Chicago-area institutions. 



The first resource center opened June 27, 1987. 

 Focusing on native peoples of the Americas, it was named 



