Terracotta Warriors at the Franklin Institute

Experience one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in history, right in Philadelphia.

More than 2,000 years ago, 700,000 workers spent 30 years constructing a massive burial site for China’s first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi. In 1974, a farmer in China was digging a well when he struck fragments of terracotta. Buried beneath the surface were thousands of life-sized statues, the Terracotta Warriors, silently guarding the tomb. Since the discovery, archaeologists excavated and researched the findings, exploring the mysteries still surrounding the statues.

Ten of the statues plus more than 160 related artifacts including weapons, coins and jade are on display at Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute, the only East Coast exhibit. In addition to the artifacts, the exhibition, “Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor,” will include an augmented reality feature, allowing visitors to get up close and personal with the warriors. Download the free augmented reality app on the App Store or Google Play.

The exhibit runs now through March 8, 2018. Open daily, pricing varies by day and time, with evening tickets starting at $20 and daytime tickets starting at $35. Check the website for more information and to reserve your tickets.