ASU Museum announces 'The Mystery of the Mayan Medallion,' opening March 14

March 5, 2009 -- The secrets of a vanished civilization await visitors to the ASU Museum beginning Saturday, March 14, at 1 p.m. with the opening of the new exhibit, “The Mystery of the Mayan Medallion.” Visitors will enter the ancient and intriguing world of Palenque, Mexico, where the Mayan empire prospered for thousands of years. Visitors can seek out the secrets of an ancient tomb and search for a valuable artifact while exploring concepts in math, science, and history in a unique setting. Join the museum staff for fun, exploration, and refreshments at the opening celebration, which is free and open to the public.

“The Mystery of the Mayan Medallion” makes its way to Jonesboro thanks to the Arkansas Discovery Network, a network of seven museum partners funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. The exhibit runs through Sunday, June 14.

In this immersive exhibit, ASU Museum visitors and members are transported to Palenque, where an archaeological team has mysteriously disappeared from a dig site while investigating rumors of a priceless jade medallion buried in the ruins. Parents and children can follow the clues the team left behind to locate the precious medallion. But don’t forget to heed the warning signs to avoid the fate of the vanished archeologists.

“The Mystery of the Mayan Medallion” was developed by the Arkansas Discovery Network specifically for Arkansas and the network’s partner museums.

"This exhibit is a wonderful hands-on experience for both children and adults,” said Lenore Shoults, assistant director for the ASU Museum. For more information, call Lenore Shoults at the ASU Museum at (870) 972-2074, or visit http://museum.astate.edu.

The Arkansas Discovery Network, funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, works to strengthen partner museums by sharing resources and expanding discovery learning opportunities throughout the state. Member museums include the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock, Mid-America Science Museum in Hot Springs, Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas in Pine Bluff, Texarkana Museum System in Texarkana, Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in Smackover, Arkansas State University Museum in Jonesboro and the University of Arkansas Center for Mathematics and Science Education in Fayetteville. Visit the website at www.arkansasdiscoverynetwork.org.

The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, headquartered in Las Vegas, is a national philanthropic organization founded in 1954 by the late media entrepreneur for whom it is named. The Foundation is one of the 50 largest private foundations in the United States.  

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