THE ACCIDENTAL MUMMIES OF GUANAJUATO EXHIBITION EXTENDED THROUGH MAY 5, 2010

The Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato exhibition, scheduled to end April 11, 2010 at the Detroit Science Center, has been extended through May 5, 2010.

The Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato features 36 accidental mummies on loan from the Museo de las Momias de Guanajuato. The exhibit combines science, history and cultural anthropology to immerse visitors in the world of a Mexican city over 100 years ago where deceased residents naturally mummified in their crypts. The Detroit tour stop is the very first time these mummies have been seen outside of Mexico.

“These mummies have attracted millions of visitors to Guanajuato and it is an honor to bring them to the United States,” said Kevin Prihod, President & CEO of the Detroit Science Center. “This exhibition presents a unique look into Mexican culture, forensic science and the very lives of these amazing mummies. It is an experience not to be missed.”

Unlike bodies that were “artificially” mummified through an embalming and wrapping process, accidental mummies form only in certain climates and conditions. Local legend held that the bodies in Guanajuato became mummified because the area’s water is rich in minerals and sulfur. However researchers believe that the hot weather warmed the crypts and dried out the bodies. The Guanajuato collection is believed to be the largest group of mummies anywhere in the Western Hemisphere.

Visitors to the exhibition can meet some of these accidental mummies, learn about life in their thriving community, discover the modern-day forensic technology that helps scientists analyze them, and explore a culture that reveres and celebrates them. Each mummy tells his or her own story, with facial reconstructions completed by a forensic artist to give insight into their lives.

Tickets are $24.95 for adults, $22.95 for seniors (60+) and $19.95 for children (2-12). They are available at www.detroitsciencecenter.org, www.accidentalmummies.com and www.museumtix.com. Museum admission is complimentary with an exhibition ticket. For further information, including an interactive tour of the exhibition, please visit accidentalmummies.com.

The Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato is an official event of the Mexico 2010 Bicentennial celebration. It is produced by Detroit Science Center Design & Exhibits at Eekstein’s Workshop, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Detroit Science Center that creates captivating, durable, engaging exhibits and displays for museum and corporate clients, in association with Accidental Mummies Touring Company LLC. The exhibition is sponsored in Detroit by AT&T. Media support for the exhibition in Detroit is provided by Latino Press, WDIV-TV and WJR-AM.