WASHINGTON (March 3, 2015)—The beloved character of Indiana Jones and his adventures in search of the ancient past have inspired audiences around the world for over 30 years. These stories, many based on actual archaeological figures and sites around the world, playfully capture National Geographic’s spirit of exploration and provide the perfect platform to talk about real archaeologists and what they do. Opening at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C, on Thursday, May 14, Indiana Jones™ and the Adventure of Archaeology offers a redefined, modern exhibition experience with a combination of Hollywood magic, history and science. The innovative exhibition, made possible by Lucasfilm Ltd., presented by the National Geographic Society and produced by Montreal’s X3 Productions, features an extensive collection of original Indiana Jones film materials from the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, along with photography, video and stories from the National Geographic Society and impressive artifacts from the collections of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (Penn Museum), one of the greatest archaeology museums in the world.
“Indiana Jones made archaeology cool for an entire generation and influenced countless scientists to go into this field,” said National Geographic’s vice president of exhibitions, Kathryn Keane. “National Geographic has supported and reported on the work of real Indiana Joneses for over 100 years. This is a great opportunity to talk about some of the fascinating stories from our own past and hopefully inspire a few future Indys.”
Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology invites museum visitors on a multimedia adventure, immersed in the exciting world of Doctor Jones. Visitors will use an interactive, handheld device with an audio greeting from Harrison Ford and comprehensive educational content, photos and videos, which will guide them on the “Indy Trail” and through various archaeological zones. The exhibit features a vast, exclusive collection of original Indy props, models, concept art and costumes as well as a wealth of historical and cultural context and objects. The internationally renowned Penn Museum has provided a remarkable array of archaeological artifacts and educational material. As the exhibition’s global presenting partner, National Geographic has also shared photos, videos and content archives to illustrate the franchise’s connection to real-world archaeology.
“This exhibition is an exciting journey into the fascinating world of archaeology,” said Dr. Fredrik Hiebert, National Geographic’s Archaeology Fellow. “This is the perfect opportunity to introduce audiences of all ages to this scientific field through the inspiration of these highly popular films.”
Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology elucidates myths associated with famous, fictional relics like the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail and explores mythical places such as Akator and Mayapore. The exhibition also sheds light on how archaeologists work on real projects and make scientific breakthroughs such as deciphering ancient scripts, finding lost cities and discovering treasure in unexpected places.
The exhibition was designed by X3 Productions with input from Hiebert and Dr. Michel Fortin, who helped to develop the educational content. Fortin is full professor of Near Eastern Archaeology at Université Laval in Quebec City, where he has been teaching in the Department of History for nearly three decades. He has led numerous excavation teams in the Middle East and is a true ambassador for his profession. World-renowned archaeologist Hiebert is a field expert who has searched for human history in some of the world’s most remote and exotic places. His experience in both North and South America and across Asia is ideal for this project.
Information and Ticket Sales
Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology: The Exhibition will be open at the National Geographic Museum from May 14, 2015, to Jan. 3, 2016. Tickets are now on sale here or call (202) 857-7700. For information on the exhibit, visit indianajonestheexhibition.com.
About the National Geographic Society
With a mission to inspire, illuminate and teach, the National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. The member-supported Society, which believes in the power of science, exploration and storytelling to change the world, reaches over 600 million people each month through its media platforms, products and events. National Geographic has funded more than 11,000 research, conservation and exploration projects, and its education programs promote geographic literacy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com and find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
About Indiana Jones™
2011 marked the 30th anniversary of Indiana Jones’ first appearance on the silver screen. Since then, audiences around the world have been enraptured by his exploits and adventures. The popular film series — Raiders of the Lost Ark™, Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom™, Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade™ and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull™ — has garnered 14 Academy Awards® nominations and won seven Oscars. When the fourth film was released in 2008, it immediately reached the top of the box office as the No. 1 movie in America. The Indiana Jones films have become a part of film history themselves, and remain among the most popular films ever made — with record box office and merchandise sales and a strong fan base throughout the world. Boasting a charismatic hero with wide-spread appeal, the film series lends itself to an unprecedented exhibit opportunity by which museum visitors of all ages can be introduced to the history, tools, findings and principles of archaeology. For more information, visit indianajones.com.
About X3 Productions
X3 Productions consists of three reputed Montreal-based creative companies who have joined forces and combined their extensive expertise in order to offer turnkey project solutions that reflect the challenges faced by museums around the world. Established as pioneers and major players in the field of exhibit design and production for over 50 years, gsmprjct° (gsmprjct.com) is a collective of four integrated teams behind the creation of many exhibitions for a variety of world-class museums. As Canada’s leading cultural organization, L’Équipe Spectra (equipespectra.ca) is best known for its creation of world-class cultural projects reaching an educated clientele. Bleublancrouge (bleublancrouge.ca) has been voted one of Canada’s best creative agencies every year since 2008 by developing local, national and international integrated communications campaigns that have garnered worldwide acclaim. X3 Productions is committed to redefining the modern museum experience by developing and promoting interactive blockbuster touring museum exhibitions. With a focus on creating innovative concepts, gathering unique collections and developing content-driven experiences, X3 aims to provide a new kind of museum experience, one that engages, educates and entertains visitors in innovative ways. For more information, visit x3productions.ca.
About Lucasfilm Ltd.
Lucasfilm Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production. In addition to its motion picture and television production, the company’s activities include visual effects and audio post-production, cutting-edge digital animation, interactive entertainment software and the management of the global merchandising activities for its entertainment properties including the legendary STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES franchises. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in northern California.
Lucasfilm, the Lucasfilm logo, INDIANA JONES and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.
About the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will be a first-of-its-kind institution, designed to serve as the country’s premiere venue for understanding the connections and lineage of illustrative and visual art. Conceived by George Lucas, the museum is based in the filmmaker’s passion for education and the role art can play in inspiring young people. The museum will offer state-of-the-art facilities and unparalleled programming for children, families, schools, scholars and visiting artists. The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art’s collection ranges from fine art to animation, from fashion to cinematic design, and is comprised of works of the great masters of the Golden Age of Illustration through today’s digital artists, showing the ways culture is reflected in the popular art of any given time.
About Penn Museum
Penn Museum (the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, located on the Penn campus in Philadelphia) is dedicated to the study and understanding of human history and diversity. Founded in 1887, Penn Museum has sent more than 400 archaeological and anthropological expeditions to all the inhabited continents of the world. The museum’s collection of nearly 1 million objects includes world-renowned artifacts from ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean World, Asia, Africa, Polynesia and the Americas. With an active exhibition schedule and educational programming for children and adults, Penn Museum offers the public an opportunity to share in the ongoing discovery of humankind’s collective heritage.