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Military Families Get In Free To Genghis Khan: The Exhibition At Irving Arts Center
Thanks to the launching of the Blue Star Museums Program, all active duty military and up to five immediate family members may attend Genghis Khan: The Exhibition at the Irving Arts Center for FREE. The Blue Star program is a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and more than 1,500 museums across America through Labor Day 2011.
“To share Genghis Khan’s life and culture with our active military personnel and their families through the Blue Star Museum Program is a great way to show our appreciation for their service,” said Tommy Gonzalez, Irving City Manager and a retired Lt. Colonel in the Army Reserves. “The City of Irving is proud to host Genghis Khan: The Exhibition and we look forward to welcoming all visitors who want to learn more about this historic figure.”
The Blue Star Museums Program is available to all active duty military and up to five immediate family members on presentation of a Geneva Convention Common card (CAC), a DD Form 1173 ID card, or a DD Form 1173-1 ID CARD, including those stamped URW and DB. The ID must be presented in person at the Irving Arts Center’s Box Office to receive the discount. These include active duty military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard), National Guard and Reserve members and up to five immediate family members, defined as spouse or child.
ABOUT GENGHIS KHAN: THE EXHIBITION
The world tour of Genghis Khan: The Exhibition captures the essence of Genghis Khan’s empire, his military prowess, cultural influence, mysterious burial and lasting legacy on modern-day culture. The exhibition, the largest collection of 13th century Mongolian artifacts ever gathered in a single showing, includes gold jewelry, weaponry, tomb treasures, silk robes, religious relics, and porcelain vases. Video screens, handicraft and weaponry activity stations, a life size ger (traditional Mongolian home) and role-playing kiosks create a highly interactive, educational and historical experience that is fun for the whole family.
Tickets
Genghis Khan: The Exhibition runs through Sept. 30, 2011. Exhibit hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 1-8 p.m. Admission is timed and the last entry time is at 6:30 p.m. daily. Tickets are $8 for children, groups and seniors (ages 55 years and above); and $12 for adults. Children under 2 years old are free. To purchase tickets contact the box office at (972) 252-2787 or visit www.KhanIrving.com. Strollers are permitted inside the exhibition.
ABOUT GENGHIS KHAN: HISTORY’S GREATEST CONQUERER
An epic tale, the transformation of Temüjin – a poor, illiterate child – into Genghis Khan – one of history’s greatest conquers – is filled with brutality, cunning and intrigue. Born in 1162 AD, Genghis Khan’s early hardships included the untimely death of his father, the controversial execution of his half-brother, his imprisonment and torture at the hands of a warring tribe, the kidnapping of his young wife, Borte, and the violent and deadly rivalry between him and his sworn blood brother, Jamuka. These challenges shaped him into a brutal, yet visionary leader.
In 1206 AD he successfully united the Mongol clans and was given the title of Genghis Khan – Fierce or Oceanic Ruler. He solidified this unification by establishing a code of law or Yasa which brought order to the Mongolian steppes, and prepared his people to wage war with civilizations beyond Mongolian borders.
Balancing the rule of law with the superior power of his military, Genghis Khan was able to take a part of northern China in 1215 AD. Then, he took his armies to the west and conquered a part of the Middle East in 1220 AD. He died in 1227 AD, after leaving each of his four sons a part of his empire and selecting his son Ogodei as Khan of the Mongols. Genghis Khan’s grandson, Kublai Khan, initiated 89 years of Mongol rule over China under the support of the Yuan dynasty. Genghis Khan’s burial site remains one of history’s great mysteries.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS OF BLUE STAR MUSEUMS PROGRAM
Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families. The complete list of participating museums is available at www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.
“Blue Star Museums may be the program at the NEA of which I am the proudest,” said NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman. “Blue Star Museums recognizes and thanks our military families for all they are doing for our country, and simultaneously begins young people on a path to becoming life-long museum goers.”
The discount does not extend to programs presented at the Irving Arts Center by producing organizations other than the Irving Arts Center. For more information contact Kass Prince at (972) 252-4403, or visit the Irving Arts Center’s Web site at www.khanirving.com.
ABOUT THE IRVING ARTS CENTER
The Irving Arts Center is a department of the City of Irving. The Arts Center became an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution in 2007 and is one of only 160 institutions nationwide to earn the honor. More than 135,000 visitors representing 28 states and 205 cities attend Arts Center events each year. For more information please contact the Arts Center at (972) 252-7558 or visit www.irvingartscenter.com.
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