Terracotta Warriors Takeover at Houston Museum of Natural Science

The exhibit unearths 110 new treasures to North America exploring over two millennia of history from China’s earliest cities to the iconic Qin dynasty

Stunning jade and gold ornaments, bronze vessels, and ceremonial fittings from elite tombs are also on display

 Fifty years ago, the world was forever changed by an archaeological find that felt straight out of a movie: a vast, silent army of Terracotta Warriors, buried for millennia.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) has been a part of that journey, previously showing two blockbuster exhibitions that brought these breathtaking reminders of a distant past to a new audience. Terracotta Warriors is now open at HMNS, bringing over 110 newly unearthed treasures to North America for the very first time.

“This exhibit presents the latest archaeological discoveries that rewrote history,” said Dr. Dirk Van Tuerenhout, Curator of Anthropology for HMNS. “China’s advanced civilization did not start where once thought it did. This is a story of over two millennia with kingdoms waxing and waning. It ends with the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. His mausoleum still stands, undisturbed. His army, and servants have awoken and await your visit.”

Some of the show’s highlights include:

• The Terracotta Warriors: Get up close with life-size sculptures of the famous soldiers and their horses, as well as intricately crafted half-size chariots.
• Precious Artifacts: See stunning jades, gold ornaments, bronze vessels, and ceremonial horse fittings uncovered in the tombs of kings and noblemen.
• Witness the Dawn of Cities: Discover rare artifacts from the 4,000-year-old city of Shimao.

In partnership with leading institutions across Shaanxi Province, this exhibition offers far more to appreciate than just the iconic soldiers. The objects on display take visitors on a journey through the political and artistic achievements that paved the way for the Qin dynasty.

See artifacts from Shimao—one of China’s earliest walled cities around 2300 BCE—through the pivotal Shang and Zhou dynasties. These remarkable artifacts reveal the vast social and cultural transformation of China’s Shaanxi Province from 2300 to 206 B.C.E. They tell the story of a civilization born from fertile lands, starting with Shimao, the earliest state in northern China Breathtaking artistry of bronze works from the Zhou dynasty reveals the extraordinary craftsmanship of the time.

The silent guardians created for China’s first emperor—the Terracotta Warriors—remain the star of the show. Get up close with life-sized warriors in various forms—archers, kneeling figures, a high-ranking military official, and a replica of a unique entertainment figure created to provide vivid amusement for the emperor in the afterlife.

Terracotta Warriors is on display at HMNS beginning November 15. For ticket prices or more information, visit www.hmns.org or call (713) 639-4629.

Photos: V. Sweeten