The Tomb of Christ exhibit is currently at the National Geographic Museum. I thought the girls would find it interesting, but I had no idea how amazing it would be. The exhibit uses unbelievable technology to transport visitors to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, aka The Tomb of Christ. National Geographic has been heavily involved in the Church's recent restoration and used the latest in technological advances to record the structure in 3D.
As we entered the exhibit, the girls were intrigued by the automatic doors that seemed to open in unexpected places. Visitors immediately feel like they are being led into an ancient area that should be reserved for Indiana Jones. After a brief introduction, visitors are directed to an area to pick up 3D glasses and then walk into a room with 3D images projected on the wall. It is immediately impressive, but you have no idea what you are about to see. The room seems to come alive around you. It is as if you are standing in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. People around you are reaching into thin air because, with the 3D glasses on, it as if they can touch the ancient structure that appears to be around them. Oh, but it gets better. Because these are simply recorded images, you can be transported into the air to look down upon the Church. You begin to believe that you are flying through Jerusalem air space.
Upon leaving this amazing experience, you enter a slightly more traditional museum exhibit that shows the history of the site. However, visitors can see some of the less traditional equipment that allowed National Geographic to record these amazing 3D images of the Tomb of Christ. At the end of the exhibit, the experience becomes high tech once again. Visitors can put on virtual reality headsets and explore the site again on their own. By looking at marked areas, doors open up or you can ascend to the top of the Church and look at certain pieces closely.
Meg and Clare loved every second of this exhibit and would go again and again if given the opportunity. They have already talked their dad into taking them in July. Four-year-old Anne was overwhelmed. She had to be held during the 3D portion and she wanted nothing to do with virtual reality. So the bottom line is, this is an amazing exhibit, but it is probably best for kids seven years old and above.