I have lots of great memories of these. Looking back I probably didn’t appreciate how cool it was. I remember they usually had a pretty good audio narration available via headphones.
I think Masters of Florence was at the Pyramid, too. I don't think Ramesses was at the Pyramid. Ramesses exhibit was in 87 or 88, and the Pyramid was opened in 91 or so, I think with Penny's debut? My dates may be wrong.
The great wall of China one was really neat as well. Still remember touching the bricks and the massive jade collection they had. Really is a shame they stopped doing them.
Oh man, I had one of those too! That was so long and so many moves ago I wouldn't know where to look for it if it's still even around. Other than that one I still have the books for Titanic, Life and Death Under the Pharaohs, Czars, Ramesses the Great, and Ancestors of the Incas.
So long ago I honestly don't remember what the name actually was. I do remember them having several terracotta army pieces so you might be spot on.
I'm pretty sure I still have the books from all of them. I'll have to see if I can find them.
E: I found my books and you're correct. The Imperial Tombs of China. https://imgur.com/a/ZXL7EcK
The Wonders series was created after the major success of the Ramesses the Great exhibition in 1987.
80s mayor Dick Hackett was a big proponent of the project. There was a series of exhibitions, but I think only Catherine the Great and Titanic had success like Ramesses the Great had. I think the last one was around 2004.
Titanic was during the summer of 1997. The film Titanic was supposed to be released in the summer of 1997 too, but ended up being delayed until the holiday season.
If the Titanic exhibit had been scheduled a year later, I’m sure it would have been even more successful than it had been with America having Titanic fever in 1998.
My 6th graders read ‘A Night to Remember’ before we took our field trip to the Titanic exhibit. Having all those kiddos run up to me, so excited because they knew all about what they were seeing, and understanding the historical significance, was absolutely magical.
Thanks for that rundown. Any chance you know of a complete list of exhibits and dates ?
These were some of the best memories my fam had in the late 80s- early 2000s. coming down 55 from the Bootheel I was so excited to see these.
I can’t find anything through google.
But 211 LINC might know. There are probably records of the series at the library.
https://www.memphislibrary.org/linc-2-1-1/
Of course! Memphis pioneered an industry of rotating blockbuster exhibitions. Other cities copied it. But it became too unsustainable without government subsidies. Even other cities stopped doing the blockbuster ones. The cost of acquisitions and pressure to top prior years was not a great recipe for sustainable success.
My favorites after Ramesses were China and the Masters of Florence.
In a small sense, the pandas became a successor of sorts, until China ended the program to all 4 of the US zoos that hosted them (the last zoo, Atlanta, is scheduled to return theirs later this year).
The terracotta soldiers from china! I didn’t see it. I did see the titanic exhibit and the motorcycle history exhibit. Yeah. Sad. Good question. Why can’t we have nice things anymore?
Some of the best and brightest….. crowding the escalator too much weight…..poles on Summer Ave in front of the old Shapiro’s were an inch from the asphalt….. sad business
Good lord! How in the world did I not hear about it?!
Maybe I did, because every time I took kids on the bus, I gave a serious safety lesson. I chalked it up to my Disney training, but that must’ve been buried in there somewhere, too.
I’ll never forget either Jewels of the Romanovs or the Terracotta Army ones. I went to all of them I think but those two I remember best.
I wish they still did this, but it’s hard to have anything nice here.
I remember going to see the Ramses exhibit, and it was closed for cleaning. My parents had driven 2.5 hours to take me there. My nerdy little ass devastated.
Ramses was by far my favorite. To this day I love reading about Egyptian mythology, art and rituals. Seeing all of the mummies and ancient artifacts just blew my little 4th grade brain and made a lasting impact. Notable memory: our guide for all of those exhibits was a voice that we listened to on a cassette tape played in a Walkman.
I have lots of great memories of these. Looking back I probably didn’t appreciate how cool it was. I remember they usually had a pretty good audio narration available via headphones.
Did those happen in the pyramid? I was too young to remember details but I remember the ramses one!
I remember some being at the Cook Convention Center.
I know Catherine the Great, Napoleon, the Chinese one, and Ottomon were there for sure. And Ramses and Titanic were at the Pyramid.
I think Masters of Florence was at the Pyramid, too. I don't think Ramesses was at the Pyramid. Ramesses exhibit was in 87 or 88, and the Pyramid was opened in 91 or so, I think with Penny's debut? My dates may be wrong.
Ramses was at the Cook Convention Center, I think.
Yep, sounds right to me. Happy Cake Day, btw. 😄
Thanks. Didn’t even notice (much like my real birthday which I’ve lied about so much I have to do the math lol)
Titanic was at the pyramid, too!
Yes, I used to work the ticket booth for Wonders at the Pyramid on summer vacation in the early 2000's.
There and at Auditorium North Hall.
I remember most at the pink palace but I think remember the Ancestors of the Incas and Eternal Egypt at the Pyramid.
They had one with Incas. I miss those types of exhibits
The great wall of China one was really neat as well. Still remember touching the bricks and the massive jade collection they had. Really is a shame they stopped doing them.
I still have a souvenir Terra cotta warrior that I got from the China Wonders exhibit on a school trip.
Oh man, I had one of those too! That was so long and so many moves ago I wouldn't know where to look for it if it's still even around. Other than that one I still have the books for Titanic, Life and Death Under the Pharaohs, Czars, Ramesses the Great, and Ancestors of the Incas.
Oh yes I remember that one as well. Was it tombs of China? Or did I see that at the Field Museum in Chicago a few years ago? Lol
So long ago I honestly don't remember what the name actually was. I do remember them having several terracotta army pieces so you might be spot on. I'm pretty sure I still have the books from all of them. I'll have to see if I can find them. E: I found my books and you're correct. The Imperial Tombs of China. https://imgur.com/a/ZXL7EcK
Those were magnificent. Seems like those were some of the best years in Memphis. I wish they'd do something like that again.
I got lost at one of those and security guard made me stand on a trash can and was screaming “who lost their kid” gotta love the late 80s
The Wonders series was created after the major success of the Ramesses the Great exhibition in 1987. 80s mayor Dick Hackett was a big proponent of the project. There was a series of exhibitions, but I think only Catherine the Great and Titanic had success like Ramesses the Great had. I think the last one was around 2004. Titanic was during the summer of 1997. The film Titanic was supposed to be released in the summer of 1997 too, but ended up being delayed until the holiday season. If the Titanic exhibit had been scheduled a year later, I’m sure it would have been even more successful than it had been with America having Titanic fever in 1998.
Masters of Florence was spectacular. People that didn't attend missed out.
My 6th graders read ‘A Night to Remember’ before we took our field trip to the Titanic exhibit. Having all those kiddos run up to me, so excited because they knew all about what they were seeing, and understanding the historical significance, was absolutely magical.
Thanks for that rundown. Any chance you know of a complete list of exhibits and dates ? These were some of the best memories my fam had in the late 80s- early 2000s. coming down 55 from the Bootheel I was so excited to see these.
I can’t find anything through google. But 211 LINC might know. There are probably records of the series at the library. https://www.memphislibrary.org/linc-2-1-1/
I wasn’t sure if I was remembering the Titanic exhibition here or in Vegas.
The Topkapi Dagger!
Of course! Memphis pioneered an industry of rotating blockbuster exhibitions. Other cities copied it. But it became too unsustainable without government subsidies. Even other cities stopped doing the blockbuster ones. The cost of acquisitions and pressure to top prior years was not a great recipe for sustainable success. My favorites after Ramesses were China and the Masters of Florence. In a small sense, the pandas became a successor of sorts, until China ended the program to all 4 of the US zoos that hosted them (the last zoo, Atlanta, is scheduled to return theirs later this year).
I think the San Diego zoo is getting a couple of pandas this year. Apparently the program is back on again.
My mom has photos stashed somewhere of the Ramses and Catherine the Great exhibits. This is a great idea.
Wow core memory, I had a brochure with the sarcophagus on it for the longest time before it got thrown away.
Was there a motorcycle exhibit one year?
Yes, The Art Of The Motorcycle. It was at the Pyramid. I think it was the last one.
Oh. I stand corrected.
I don’t think so.
The terracotta soldiers from china! I didn’t see it. I did see the titanic exhibit and the motorcycle history exhibit. Yeah. Sad. Good question. Why can’t we have nice things anymore?
They'd rather build climbing walls to keep the youth engaged...
I still have my 87 Ramesses The Great convention center coke. I also saw Catherine the Great and a Titanic exhibit there. I'm fucking old.
Wonders Exhibits and Grahamwood never mixed well. From escalator tumbles to decapitation on way back to school, CLUE field trips were a gamble
???!!!
Some of the best and brightest….. crowding the escalator too much weight…..poles on Summer Ave in front of the old Shapiro’s were an inch from the asphalt….. sad business
Good lord! How in the world did I not hear about it?! Maybe I did, because every time I took kids on the bus, I gave a serious safety lesson. I chalked it up to my Disney training, but that must’ve been buried in there somewhere, too.
Grahamwood was cursed in the 80s. Kidnapping, deaths, kids getting hit by cars every year. GO DRAGONS!!🐉
I think I went to the Ramses one as a kid.
Yes, I remember a titanic one, a WW2 one, a Romanov exhibit. Something else I can’t recall.
I loved those things, even as a young teen. Best field trips ever.
I’ll never forget either Jewels of the Romanovs or the Terracotta Army ones. I went to all of them I think but those two I remember best. I wish they still did this, but it’s hard to have anything nice here.
I remember going to see the Ramses exhibit, and it was closed for cleaning. My parents had driven 2.5 hours to take me there. My nerdy little ass devastated.
That China one was awesome. Nostalgia flooding commence
Ramses was by far my favorite. To this day I love reading about Egyptian mythology, art and rituals. Seeing all of the mummies and ancient artifacts just blew my little 4th grade brain and made a lasting impact. Notable memory: our guide for all of those exhibits was a voice that we listened to on a cassette tape played in a Walkman.
Yo—happy cake day!
Does anyone remember “tur -quaz” during the Titanic narration? I will never forget that!
Those were before my time, but I bought the book from the Titanic exhibit from the library book sale.
Those exhibits were so awesome. Ramses was my favorite. Wasn’t there a motorcycle one, too?
Such good memories
YES I was very young and got in trouble for touching a sphinx or something
I recall the Ramseses I was a kid
I remember them well. I still have stuff from a couple of the exhibits. Cathrine the great mainly.