You’ll often hear “museum people,” those who frequent galleries of art, history and science, refer to a trip to the museum as a visit with old friends. I have old friends in museums in America and abroad. In most cases I know exactly where you can find them. For example, for the longest time Edward Hopper’s “Night Hawks” was located on the second floor of the Art Institute of Chicago in the second gallery to the right of the central staircase. It’s been some time since I visited my old friend so I’m sure the museum staff has probably moved the painting.
Many adults and school children in Louisiana have an old friend living in the Louisiana Arts and Science Museum (LASM) located on River Road in downtown Baton Rouge. I know this because they have told me so. LASM houses one of the few Egyptian tomb exhibits in the southern United States. Visitors walk inside a simulated Ptolemaic rock-cut tomb to visit the 2,300-year old mummy.
The interpretive label describes our old friend as “Adult Mummy, Ptolemaic Period (305–30 BC). This mummy came to LASM in 1964. It was originally acquired from the Egypt Exploration Society, which has been excavating in Egypt since 1822. Discovered near Thebes, the body is that of a young man. His name is unknown.”
Some of my friends in Baton Rouge recall being introduced to the Mummy during a school field trip as children. They reminisce about multiple return visits over the years. They even return with their children and grand children to visit a familiar friend.
Elizabeth Weinstein, curator for the LASM shared with me that “he has been on public view throughout his history in Baton Rouge, with very few exceptions. He is undoubtedly LASM’s most popular attraction! He even tweets!” I don’t tweet but I believe I may start.
Louisiana Art & Science Museum 100 River Road South (225) 344-5272 • lasm.org
In January, Mark A. Tullos, Jr., was appointed assistant secretary of the Louisiana State Museum. He has served as Director in art museums and visual arts organizations for the past twenty-four years. Before returning to Louisiana in 2003, he was Director of The Art Center, Waco, Texas and The Armory Art Center, Florida. He has most recently served as director at the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum in Lafayette. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from LSU and has conducted graduate studies at Stephen F. Austin State University.
Other nominees were:
Poverty Point Canadian Whiskey Bottle at the Gueydan Museum Huey Long’s Death Bed at the Louisiana State Museum The Little Room Murals at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art
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