New Discoveries in Times Square

In June 2009, when the Discovery Times Square Exposition opened in the heart of Manhattan's Times Square district I wondered what type of an space this would be. Would I encounter a traditional museum, a Madame Toussard type tourist site or a Broadway style extravaganza? The answer was none of the above.

Instead, as I entered the former cavernous home of The New York Times printing presses, I felt I had entered into some trendy Manhattan nightclub. The cavernous 60,000 square feet space included two major gallery halls, learning centers, a special event space, a café, and a store. The dim lighting, climate-controlled environments, and minimalist architecture created an ambiance that was clearly more experiential than historical.

The Discovery Center's two premiere exhibits TITANTIC: The Artifact Exhibition and Lucy's Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia transported visitors into an immersive environment where they could experience these objects instead of simply reading off a list of historical facts. After all, this center is run by the Discovery Channel not the History Channel so the focus here is on exploring the world's defining cultures, art, artifacts and events from the eye of an adventure traveler and not a historian. Hence, those looking for an in-depth historical perspective of the events leading up to a world renowned discovery will leave somewhat disappointed. However, armchair adventures who have been following the stories of say discovering the bones of a 2.3 million year old woman and learning more about the country where she was found or exploring the wreck of the Titanic and seeing the results of 20^th century's man's over confidence in progress will delight in seeing these world class artifacts up close and personal.

The ever changing series of exhibits means that Discovery Channel fans in search for hidden treasures will be able to embark on a number of exhibitions in search of hidden treasure. As these exhibits run for a limited engagement, virtual travelers will need to get on board or run the risk of missing out on the chance to experience a piece of history. For instance, while both Titanic and Lucy completed their runs, archeology buffs can check out the National Geographic exhibition, "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs," an exhibition of 130 ancient Egyptian artifacts will journey to New York City on June 24, 2010. As this exhibit hasn't been seen in the Big Apple for more than thirty years, several generations of young explorers will get an experience the world of this Pharaoh for the very first time. Older explorers who caught the exhibit back in the '70s will be treated to an updated exhibit that takes into account what the latest research tells us about King Tut's life and death.

The Discovery Center is located at 226 West 44th Street and is open seven days a week from 10am to 10pm. Tickets are $17.50 (child 4-12), $19.50 (adult), and $18.50 (senior or 65+). For more information call 866.9.TSXTIX (866.987.9849) or logging on to www.DiscoveryTSX.com.