New exhibit at Chimczuk Museum explores ancient Egyptian life

By Cassidy McNea

If you cannot bring a Windsorite to Egypt, then bring a little bit of Egypt to a Windsorite.

A new travelling exhibit called Egypt: Gift of the Nile is on display at Chimczuk Museum. The latest exhibition is borrowed from the Royal Ontario Museum and serves as a learning experience for people interested in ancient Egyptian history.

It includes multiple displays featuring artifacts, pottery and a mummy. Topics the exhibits cover include: personal adornment, makeup and perfumes, family life, religion and the afterlife, among others.

This is not the first time some people will see parts of this exhibit. In the past a portion was on display at the Baby House museum but due to space restrictions, the entire exhibit could not be accommodated there.  

Craig Capacchione, the museum coordinator with exhibitions, said the museum is a great place to learn about local history and history outside of our borders— such as ancient Egypt.

“It’s a nice exhibit, we don’t have the artifacts for ourselves, in Windsor,” said Capacchione. “So it’s nice the citizens get to see this neat ancient history they’re not normally exposed to every day.”

Also featured at the museum are permanent items about the history of the city of Windsor and its development.

Every year more than 12 million visitors check out Ontario museums and $4.1 billion is spent on arts and culture tourists. Museums provide an important venue for discovery, conversation and understanding.

Meghan Skyum is one of these visitors. She visited the Chimczuk Museum for the first time for the Egypt exhibit. She said even with a history degree she learned something new about ancient Egyptian life.

“I think everybody should study up specifically on their local history but it’s also good to know a little bit about everything,” said Skyum. “You can pull so many parallels from the things you read and see on TV.”

The exhibit will run from Feb. 2 to May 26, covering International Museum Day on May 18. Admission is $5.25 for adults and $4.25 for students, seniors and children.