The Egyptian Museum

• Location: 15 Meret Basha,Ismailia,Qasr an Nile,Cairo Governorate
• Opening hours : Friday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm；Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
• Contact :+20-2-25754071
• Time reference :4 hours

 

The Egyptian Museum

 

The Egyptian National Museum is one of the most famous museums in the world and one of the largest collections of ancient Egyptian treasures in the world. It was founded in 1858 and is located near Tahrir Square in Cairo. It is a simple two-story brick-red building with a collection of 250,000 cultural relics with thousands of years of history, including stone statues, kings, mummies, coffins, pottery, paintings, wood carvings, textiles, daily necessities, etc., as well as papyrus documents that record ancient Egyptian science, literature, history, law and social life for thousands of years. The most famous of them are the precious cultural relics unearthed from Tutankhamun's tomb, the statues of Khufu, Khafre and King Menkaure (the owner of the three pyramids); the pure gold petal-shaped crowns of the princesses of the 12th Dynasty; the mummy of Ramses II, etc.

 

 

History：

 

Obelisk at the Pharaoh Museum

 

The Egyptian Museum, located in Cairo, is one of the most important archaeological museums in the world, dating back to the mid-19th century.In 1863, the governor of Egypt, Ismail Pasha, decided to establish a specialised museum aimed at showcasing the richness of ancient Egyptian artefacts and culture. The initial exhibitions of the museum were housed in a palace, and over the years, the current museum building was officially opened in 1902 in Tahrir Square, with its classically influenced architecture, expansive exhibition areas and elegant design. The museum's collection of over 180,000 artefacts, the most famous of which includes the treasures of Tutankhamun, attracts countless visitors. The exhibits cover the mummies of the pharaohs, gold jewellery, stone carvings, and daily necessities, fully demonstrating the glorious cultural and artistic achievements of ancient Egypt. The museum is not only an important place for academic research, but also a symbol of ancient Egyptian civilisation, attracting scholars and tourists from all over the world. In recent years, as archaeological excavations continue to deepen and the collections continue to be enriched, the museum is also undergoing modernisation, with plans to build a new and larger national museum in the Greater Cairo area to better display and protect Egypt's cultural heritage. The Egyptian Museum is not only a witness to history, but also a profound exploration of ancient civilisation, carrying people's endless curiosity and passion for exploring ancient Egypt.

 

The Egyptian Museum's treasures

• Tutankhamun's Golden Mask: This is one of the most famous artifacts in the world, representing the luxury and mystery of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs. It is not only a masterpiece of craftsmanship, but also carries a heavy history and culture.

 

 

• ‌Narmer Palette: This is the earliest historical document in the world, recording the glorious history of the ancient Egyptian King Narmer unifying Upper and Lower Egypt.

 

 

• ‌Tutankhamun's Golden Throne: The throne is engraved with symbolic patterns and hieroglyphs, revealing the religion and culture of Tutankhamun's time.
• ‌Rosetta Stone: Although the original is hidden in the British Museum, its replica is still worth seeing. The text on the stone is the key to deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.

• ‌Statue of Ramses II‌: As one of the greatest and most legendary pharaohs in ancient Egypt, his statue is tall and majestic, showing the power and majesty of the pharaoh.
• ‌Full-length statue of King Djoser‌: This is the earliest life-size statue discovered so far, showing the style of King Djoser, the founder of the Third Dynasty of Ancient Egypt.
• ‌Giant head of Hatshepsut‌: After a long history, the head still retains its original color, combining the majesty of the pharaoh and the softness of women.
• ‌Double statue of Rahutep and Nefert‌: Carved from limestone, the eye sockets and eyeballs are well preserved, showing the exquisite craftsmanship of the ancient Egyptians.
• ‌Seated statue of Khafre‌: This seated statue shows the majesty and royal power of the pharaoh, and is a precious foil to the Pyramid of Khafre and the Sphinx.

 

Admission Prices

Adults (18-64) - $10.00

Adults (65 and older) - $8.00

Students with ID - $8.00

Children (ages 7 to 17) - $8.00

Children 6 and under - complimentary

* $1.00 discount for members of KQED and Military with a valid ID

 

Complimentary admission for Rosicrucian members and Friends of the Museum.

 

*Please note: Guests 17 and under will not be admitted without a parent or chaperone at least 18 years of age, who will need to accompany them at all times while in the museum.

 

 

How to get there？

By Car:

From East Bay or Highway 101:

Take 880 South to the Santa Clara/Alameda exit. Turn left onto the Alameda. At the third stoplight, turn right onto Naglee. Go one block and look to your left. You will see our parking lot. Parking is free. After parking, walk through the park to the museum which is located on Park Ave. Signs are posted throughout the park directing you to the museum.

 

From Interstate 280:

Take 880 North. Take the Alameda exit. Turn right off the exit onto the Alameda. Turn right at the 2nd stoplight onto Naglee. Go one block and look to your left. You will see our parking lot. Parking is free. After parking, walk through the park to the museum which is located on Park Ave. Signs are posted throughout the park directing you to the museum

 

Parking: We have free parking in our Parking lot, located on the corner of Naglee Avenue and Chapman Street (one block east of the museum).

 

Buses: Load and unload passengers in front of the museum on Park Avenue. Bus parking is located one block east on Naglee Avenue (take a right on Naglee off Park Avenue).

 

Public Transportation:

Bus:

There are three bus routes to Rosicrucian Park: Route 22/522, Route 61/62, Route 81. This Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority website contains bus schedules and route maps.

 

Tips：

1. To protect artefacts, flash lights cannot be used in museums. The best way to avoid the queues to enter the museum is to book tickets in advance or travel in a group.

2. The museum is often crowded at midday, so try visiting in the morning or afternoon, when it's often quieter.

3. The souvenir shop in the backyard has a wide range of goods, good value, although not the cheapest, but many styles are exclusive to the Egyptian Museum, can not be bought outside. There is also an automated terminal in the shop, insert 5 Egyptian pounds into it, and then enter your name, you can print out a beautiful A4-sized piece of paper, written on the name of the hieroglyphic writing. There's also a cute little calendar of sphinxes with painted nails, and EGP 10 for pharaoh masks and stickers of various gods. Sticky notes and postcards are also of good quality.

4. Cameras are not allowed in the museum. When you go through the security check, you are asked to save your camera to their camera storage. If you want to take photos, you can take some with your mobile phone, but there are managers inside who will ask you not to take photos if they see you taking photos with your mobile phone.