Your last opportunity to stand face to face with authentic and rare Terra Cotta Warriors draws near. November 2, 2014 is the final day to see eight, life-size clay soldiers and more than 100 spectacular, ancient Chinese artifacts before they are carefully packed and shipped back to their home in Xian, China.

Terra Cotta Warriors: The Emperor's Painted Army, directly from Shaanxi Province opened to rave reviews from high ranking Chinese officials and media around the world, on May 10, 2014.  Since then, the exhibit has exceeded all attendance projections as visitors of all ages from around the world have explored the exhibit. 

“It has been an incredible honor and tremendous privilege to be entrusted with some of the most historically valuable artifacts in history.” said Dr. Jeffrey H. Patchen, president and CEO, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. “We are proud to share the science and craft that went into creating the artifacts themselves. Watching the faces of visitors experience these cultural treasures has been particularly rewarding as we help bring people of all ages face to face with an incredible story that helped shape a nation.”

The amazing archaeological discovery of what may be as many as 8,000 buried statues began in 1974 as farmers digging a well in China discovered a terra cotta face staring back at them from deep beneath the surface. Since then, very few of the warriors have been released from China at any one time.  The Children's Museum is they only place they can be seen in the United States during 2014.

This “Eighth Wonder of the World” as many call it, was discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well. Since then, very few of the Terra Cotta Warriors have been released from China at any one time. Eight of the magnificent soldiers, along with 118 additional other authentic artifacts (some gold and bronze) are featured in this interactive exhibit that encourages visitors of all ages to become investigators.

At the same time The Children's Museum  debuted Terra Cotta Warriors, a companion semi-permanent exhibit Take Me There:® Chinaopened. During the next three years, this exhibit about the Chinese culture will entertain and educate visitors with always changing live performances by Chinese artists demonstrating martial arts, music, calligraphy, shadow puppetry and more. *Take Me There:® China is free with general admission.  As noted above, there is a nominal additional charge for Terra Cotta Warriors: The Emperor's Painted Army.

Terra Cotta Warriors: The Emperor's Painted Army is presented by Eli Lilly and Company Foundation.  Take Me There:®China is made possible by lead gifts from Lilly Endowment, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, The Lilly Family, Mrs. Yvonne Shaheen, Sarah and John Lechleiter, the U.S. Institute for Museum and Library Services, Jane and Steve Marmon, Susan and Jim Naus, and Polly Hix.

Find VIDEO at http://youtu.be/-kYGCjAtajw and learn more at www.childrensmuseum.org/warriors and www.childrensmuseum.org/china2014. For more information about The Children's Museum, visit www.childrensmuseum.org, follow us on Twitter @TCMIndy, Facebook.com/childrensmuseum and YouTube.

About The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is a nonprofit institution committed to creating extraordinary learning experiences across the arts, sciences, and humanities that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. For more information about The Children's Museum, visit www.childrensmuseum.org, follow us onTwitter @TCMIndy, Facebook.com/childrensmuseumandYouTube.com/IndyTCM