CHARLOTTE – Ever wonder if the legend is true? Discover the eye-opening truth about Genghis Khan, the world’s greatest conqueror, civilizer and innovator in Discovery Place Science’s latest exhibition, Genghis Kahn.

Opening on Saturday, November 19, visitors will learn the stories, see the treasures and explore the culture, conquests and heritage of Genghis Khan's 13th-century Mongol Empire and will discover the man who first introduced the modern essentials of pants, paper money, forks, passports and much more.

Presented to the community by Wells Fargo, Genghis Khan will recreate the amazing life of the legendary leader and the nomadic horse culture of Mongolia, allowing guests to enter the tents, battlegrounds and marketplaces of this vanished world. Explore Genghis Khan's life and those of his sons and grandsons during the rapid rise and decline of the Mongol Empire.

Visitors will experience the exhibition through the eyes of a Mongolian resident, receiving a civilian identity card at the beginning of their journey. From warrior to spy to princess, follow this character’s life throughout the rise of the great Mongol Empire across six key scenes:

• The Grasslands: Discover the daily life of a nomad on the high plateaus of Central Asia and learn about the outcast Genghis Khan’s earliest struggles. Walk into an ancient Mongol ger (yurt) home. Stand in the midst of a herd of stampeding horses.
• Rise of the Mongols: Learn how the young, charismatic Genghis Kahn united warring tribes in order to form an unrivaled cavalry. Explore the equestrian culture and innovations in weaponry Genghis Khan mastered to conquer four times more land than any Empire in history.
• The Walled City: Enter the recreation of Karakorum, the walled city, which became the capital of the Mongolian Empire after Genghis Khan’s son inherited the kingdom. See how life changed for Mongols once they had vanquished all of their enemies, and arts and diverse religions and cultures flourished as the need for war subsided.
• The Silk Road: While Genghis Khan was a ruthless warrior, he was also a savvy statesman and benevolent rule. He developed a written language and a sophisticated society with fair taxation, stable government, appreciation of the arts, religious freedom and open trade along the Silk Road. Explore this vital trade route which enabled the exchange of both goods and ideas between cultures.
• The Palace of Kublai Khan - Enter the sumptuous Chinese palace of Xanadu, the center of the Empire of Genghis's grandson, Kublai, who united China for the first time. See porcelain treasures and a sword with the emblem of a guardian of Marco Polo, among many others.
• Mongolia Today: Trace the influence of Genghis Khan in images of modern Mongolian life. The distinctive horse-based culture of Genghis Khan’s time persists today as the nation and language he created lives on eight centuries after his rule. See how his legend lives on through the namesake of many modern Mongolian brands, and how he revered as a god among the Mongolian people.

Curated and developed by dinosaur expert Don Lessem, the exhibition features more than 200 spectacular objects on display, including rare and sophisticated weapons, costumes, jewels, ornaments, instruments and numerous other fascinating relics and elaborate artifacts from 13th-century Mongolia. "I went to Mongolia to look for fossils and discovered the truth about Genghis Khan, a civilizing genius,” said Lessem. “It's a great story best told in a major exhibition."

Genghis Khan will open to the general public on Saturday, November 19 at 11:00 a.m.

Guests ages 21+ can get a first-look at the exhibition as it debuts at Science on the Rocks: Ultimate Warrior on Friday, November 18 from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. Test your skills in the Ultimate Warrior Obstacle Course, don a Sumo Suit for a hilariously challenging wrestling match, show off your athletic abilities on a Wipe Out-inspired inflatable, make your own Mongolian warrior mask and much more. Come dressed as your favorite warrior from the silver screen, and you could win the costume contest. The exhibition opens to Science on the Rocks guests at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Must be 21+ to enter.

Complete the Genghis Khan experience with Mysteries of China in IMAX. Starting with modern China and springing back to birth of this mighty nation, explore an ancient time when a fierce warrior brought together a warring nation and how an accidental discovery of the Terracotta Warriors and the Tomb of the First Emperor changed everything we know about China's past. IMAX tickets are just $5 with Museum admission.

Genghis Khan is in included with Museum admission. Discovery Place Science admission is $17 for adults (14-59); $13 for children (2-13); $15 for seniors (60+); and free for Discovery Place Science Members and children younger than 2, plus tax. IMAX® tickets may be added for an additional $5 per person. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. Children age 13 and younger must be accompanied by a responsible adult while in Discovery Place. Guests can purchase tickets online at discoveryplace.org., via phone at 704.372.6261 x300 or in person.

About Discovery Place Science

One of the top hands-on science museums in the nation, Discovery Place Science provides ever-changing, entertaining facilities that engage people in the active exploration of science, technology and nature. The Museum brings relevant, contemporary science to life through groundbreaking exhibitions, interactive educational programming and hands-on activities.

Discovery Place Science is located in uptown Charlotte at 301 N. Tryon Street. Convenient parking is available in the Museum’s parking deck – the Carol Grotnes Belk Complex – at the corner of Sixth and Church Streets. For more information about Discovery Place, call 704.372.6261, visit discoveryplace.org or connect with Discovery Place Science on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

About Discovery Place

Discovery Place is a 501c3 nonprofit that provides STEM education to the Carolinas through four distinct museum experiences at Discovery Place Science, Discovery Place Nature and Discovery Place Kids, interactive educational programming, professional development training and community outreach initiatives.

Discovery Place is supported, in part, with funding from the Arts & Science Council.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 8,600 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 42 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 269,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 27 on Fortune’s 2016 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. In 2015, Wells Fargo donated $281.3 million to 16,300 nonprofits, ranking No. 3 on the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s rankings of the top corporate cash philanthropists. Wells Fargo team members volunteered 1.86 million hours in 2015, serving more than 40,000 nonprofits. Wells Fargo’s corporate social responsibility efforts are focused on three priorities: economic empowerment in underserved communities, environmental sustainability, and advancing diversity and social inclusion. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

# # #