SC State Museum

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"4,000-Year-Old Tomb Of Doctor To The Pharaohs Discovered" via Huffington post.

Some of our Facebook fans think this looks like a TARDIS! What do you think?

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SHARK WEEK POST!

Did you know? The State Museum’s iconic megalodon model was created by artist Stavros Chrysostomides who also built the famous Zesto ice cream cones. The shark took a year to construct and weighs over 3 tons!

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Getting ready for Shark Week! In case you've ever wondered how we keep our megalodon model's teeth clean : )

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These two fossil teeth in the SC State Museum's natural history collection are from a baby and adult version of this prehistoric shark. Can you name the shark?

The largest fossil is about 6 inches high and both are more than 5 million years old!

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Happy Birthday NASA!

America in Space - The First Decade, 1968

From the NASA series: Headquarters’ Films Relating to Aeronautics, 1962 - 1981

On the 55th Anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958!

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY NASA!!

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c. 1922 image showing the interior of Tutankhamun's tomb.

From the Nov. 27, 1922 diary entry of archaeologist Howard Carter:

The sight that met us was beyond anything one could conceive  . . . It was a sight surpassing all precedent, and one we never dreamed of seeing. We were astonished by the beauty and refinement of the art displayed by the objects surpassing all we could have imagined - the impression was overwhelming.

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What the destruction of 4 years of Civil War looked like. Images are from the collection of the SC State Museum.

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Did you know?

Four South Carolinians signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776:

Edward Rutledge

Thomas Heyward Jr.

Thomas Lynch Jr.

Arthur Middleton

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1922 photograph depicting the interior of Tutankhamun's tomb.

See more amazing objects from King Tut's tomb in the exhibit, Tutankhamun: Return of the King.

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Was King Tut killed by a hippopotamus?

At the age of 19, King Tut died suddenly without any children to succeed him. For many years historians debated about the cause of the young ruler’s death with everything from illness to murder being suggested. While the idea of a politically motivated assassination sounds exciting, recent scientific advances have allowed researchers to narrow down the reasons for Tut’s demise through the use of CT scans. The scans revealed the pharaoh suffered massive physical trauma prior to his death, possibly in a fall from his chariot or as the result of a hunting accident. In 2010, an Egyptology professor hypothesized the damage to Tut’s chest and ribs could have been caused by a lethal hippopotamus bite and, as Tut was known to be an avid hippopotamus hunter, this could have been what killed the young king. The short answer, however, is that no one really knows how Tutankhamun died.

Learn more about Tutankhamun in our blog post, 5 Things You Might Not Know About King Tut

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HAPPY CAROLINA DAY!

On June 28, 1776 American forces defeated the British at the Battle of Sullivan's Island. “For a moment the British thought they had the upper hand when the fort’s flag came down . . . Sgt. William Jasper bravely leapt . . . to retrieve the flag. He attached it to a makeshift mast and it once again flew over the fort .”

Read more on our blog!

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At the Soda Fountain Vernon Grant 1941

After working as an illustrator and advertising artist Grant retired to Rock Hill, SC. From the collection of the South Carolina State Museum.

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American Kestrel

This American kestrel was found at the museum's construction site  last week with an injured wing. Gilbane Southeast staff took her to our friends at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden where she is now being looked after.

Kestrels are the smallest type of hawk found in the US with the males being more colorful in appearance. They can also hover by flapping their wings very quickly, which allows them to spot food like grasshoppers and other insects.

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Did you know?

King Tut was an avid hunter and sportsman!

Despite early beliefs that King Tut was a weak child and ruler, historians now think Tutankhamun was most likely both an active adolescent and sportsman. In fact, his ancestors were well known for their military prowess. Artwork and other artifacts found in his tomb suggest King Tut was an avid hunter, charioteer and a skilled archer.

Included in the many treasures found in Tut’s tomb were 3 undecorated hunting chariots, as well as an ornately painted linen chest depicting the young King triumphing over his enemies. 

Learn more about Tutankhamun in our blog post, 5 Things You Might Not Know About King Tut

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Just a few of the 124 replicas of King Tut's sacred and personal possessions, now on exhibit at the South Carolina State Museum.

Learn more --> Tutankhamun: Return of the King

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c. 1900 Slide Projector

This c.1900 slide projector was found in Newberry, SC, has a set of Masonic symbols and is set to use an electric arc lamp as its light source. From the collection of the South Carolina State Museum.

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Daughter of Amenophis IV or Akhenaten (1351-1334), Egyptian, limestone/ red paint.

This female head has an elongated skull, and is probably a child of Amenhotep IV/Akhenaten (1351-1334 BCE). The eye is hollow for inlaying. The piece is broken across the neck, and is a forgery executed in the 18th Dynasty, Amarna Period style.

Courtesy & currently located at the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, USA.