State Museum Awarding Free School Field Trip to Secrets of the Maya Exhibit | Arts & Culture

The South Carolina State Museum will send one lucky South Carolina school class to its spectacular new blockbuster exhibit Secrets of the Maya…for free!  In the museum’s new field trip contest, by completing the entry form on the museum’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/scstatemuseum and then clicking on the Enter Field Trip Contest tab, teachers may enter their classes from 8 a.m. Jan. 16 to Feb. 6 at midnight for a chance to win.

Facebook voters will select the winning South Carolina class between 8 a.m. Feb. 27 and midnight March 13. Each South Carolina State Museum Facebook fan may vote for his or her favorite class once per day during this voting period. The winning class will then receive free admission and bus travel to and from the State Museum during the spring semester, up to a value of $1,000.

The Secrets of the Maya exhibit, which opened Oct. 13, combines more than 125 artifacts dating to 250 A.D., a gallery of photos, reproductions of stone carvings, and artifacts made by the Maya people who survive today to paint a clearer portrait than has previously been seen of this historically mysterious culture.

“This exciting new major exhibit presents the story of the greatest civilization of the ancient New World, a civilization that continues to fascinate people today by way of its advanced innovations, such as pyramid construction, hieroglyphic writing, advanced mathematics including the concept of zero, and an accurate, 365-day calendar,” said Curator of History JoAnn Zeise. “This is an incredible opportunity for the State Museum and for all South Carolinians and their guests.”

Secrets of the Maya is open to the public in the State Museum’s Blockbuster Gallery through June 9.  Admission is $15 for adults, $13 for senior citizens and $11 for ages 3-12, and includes general museum admission. South Carolina students in groups are admitted for $5. Tickets can be purchased, and information can be found, on the Museum’s Web site: www.southcarolinastatemuseum.org.