Exhibit runs through Summer
Mummies of the World: The Exhibition is on display now through September 7, 2026
Visitors to the California Science Center in Los Angeles now have the opportunity to experience one of the most unique and educational museum exhibitions in the world, adding to the many community events and cultural experiences taking place across Southern California. The internationally recognized “Mummies of the World” exhibition has returned to Southern California for a special closing engagement, bringing with it an extraordinary collection of naturally preserved human and animal specimens from across the globe.
Originally premiering at the Science Center in 2010, the exhibit quickly gained attention for its powerful combination of scientific research and human storytelling. After traveling extensively throughout the United States and Europe, the exhibition has now returned to Los Angeles with new discoveries and specimens that were not part of the original presentation.
For many visitors, the exhibition offers a rare chance to explore history through both science and personal stories that connect the past with the present, similar to other arts and cultural programs happening throughout Los Angeles.
A Global Collection of Preserved History
The Mummies of the World exhibition is widely known for showcasing one of the largest collections of mummies and naturally preserved remains ever assembled. The exhibit includes specimens from multiple regions around the world, highlighting how different cultures and environments contributed to preservation over centuries — themes often explored in educational exhibits and cultural storytelling across Southern California.
Among the newly featured specimens in the Los Angeles exhibit are mummies from Hungary, Germany, and Peru, offering visitors insight into diverse historical periods and burial practices.
The exhibition also features preserved non-human specimens that demonstrate how natural conditions can preserve life in unexpected ways. Visitors will see examples such as a preserved sloth head, a lizard, and a cat, which help illustrate the many environmental factors that can contribute to natural mummification.
These specimens offer a fascinating look at both human and animal history while providing context for how preservation can occur across different environments and time periods.
Science Revealing Ancient Stories
One of the most compelling aspects of the exhibition is how modern technology allows researchers to uncover new information about individuals who lived centuries ago.
Scientists use advanced imaging tools, including high-resolution CT scans, to study mummies without disturbing their physical structure. Advances in technology continue to expand how researchers study history and scientific discovery innovation. These techniques allow researchers to examine bones, tissues, and internal features in ways that were not possible just a few decades ago.
For example, scientific analysis of mummies discovered in a Hungarian church crypt revealed that a significant number of individuals suffered from tuberculosis, offering insight into disease patterns in historical populations.
Researchers have also used cutting-edge 320-slice CT scanners to study ancient Egyptian priests. These scans can reveal injuries, illnesses, and even possible medical procedures performed thousands of years ago.
Evidence of Ancient Medical Treatment
One of the most intriguing discoveries highlighted in the exhibition involves an Egyptian mummy known as Nesman.
High-resolution scans revealed that the individual suffered from a collapsed vertebra, which likely caused significant lower back pain during his lifetime. Researchers also discovered a small opening in the back that may represent one of the earliest recorded attempts at surgical treatment for a spinal condition.
Findings like this offer rare insight into early medical practices and demonstrate that ancient civilizations were already experimenting with ways to treat serious physical conditions. Scientific discoveries about the past continue to shape how people understand human history today.
Using scientific research and community education the use of modern imaging technology continues to help scientists better understand how people lived, worked, and cared for one another in ancient societies.
Connecting Visitors With the People Behind the History
Beyond the scientific discoveries, the exhibition encourages visitors to view these individuals as real people rather than distant historical artifacts.
By learning about the physical ailments many of these individuals experienced — including toothaches, injuries, and chronic pain — visitors often find themselves relating to the daily challenges these people faced while they were alive.
This human-centered approach helps transform the exhibit into more than just a display of preserved remains, reflecting the importance of community storytelling and shared cultural experiences. Instead, it becomes a reminder that people across history have shared many of the same experiences that modern audiences understand today.
Museum educators often note that when visitors recognize these similarities, they begin to view the mummies with a deeper sense of empathy and curiosity.
The Mission of the California Science Center
The California Science Center has long been committed to creating immersive educational experiences that combine scientific discovery with meaningful storytelling. Public institutions like museums play a major role in connecting science with community learning and cultural engagement.
By blending historical artifacts with modern scientific research, exhibitions like Mummies of the World allow visitors to explore how science can reveal hidden stories from the past.
Southern California has also become a hub for scientific collaboration, with universities, researchers, and museums working together to uncover new insights into history and human health.
Through exhibitions like this one, the Science Center continues its mission of helping visitors understand how science connects the past, present, and future.
Visiting the Exhibition
The return of the Mummies of the World exhibition marks a special opportunity for Los Angeles audiences to experience a globally recognized collection that has traveled across continents before returning to Southern California, joining many educational events and public experiences happening throughout the region.
For visitors interested in history, science, archaeology, or medical discovery, the exhibition offers an engaging look at how modern technology continues to unlock the stories of the past.
More information about the exhibit can be found on the California Science Center website.
Learn more about the exhibit:
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