Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry is taking visitors back in time, to 79 AD to experience the power of nature in Pompeii: The Exhibit, running through Sept. 24.
The exhibit goes back to the days before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius that altered life in Pompeii and ensured it would echo throughout the centuries to be a topic of discussion to this day, according to a museum news release, and Chevy Humphrey, president and CEO of the museum, lauded its powerful message.
"The blend of scientific discovery and media-rich way of retelling history allows visitors to experience the awe of nature and human ingenuity,” Humphrey said in the release. “We're thrilled to bring this innovative exhibition to Chicago and provide our guests with the ability to travel through time and immerse themselves in Pompeii with breathtaking, real-life examples of archeology, geology, earth science, art history, culture and more."
According to the news release, the exhibit uses multimedia displays and more than 150 artifacts from the Naples National Archaeological Museum to create an image of a typical day in the life of residents of Pompeii just before the eruption.
John Norman, president of World Heritage Exhibitions, which is producing the exhibit, highlighted its detail in the news release.
"The story of Pompeii's destruction and preservation is well-known around the world for providing a perfect encapsulation of life during the Roman time," Norman said in the museum's news release. "We wanted to bring this historical event back to life and allow visitors to relive it vividly. By combining priceless artifacts with multimedia productions, we have created an authentic, captivating retelling of life in Pompeii."
According to the news release, the Pompeii exhibit also includes holographic gladiator battles, a 3D experience of the stages of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and a 4D theater that simulates the impact of the eruption on the city.
The exhibition, according to the museum’s release, ends with the unveiling of full-body casts of people who died in the catastrophe.