Figures on the U.S. leg of the Tutankhamun tour

International Herald Tribune

The Franklin Institute Science Museum's blockbuster King Tut show has turned out to be its most popular exhibit ever.

Officials said Monday that more than 1.3 million people visited the exhibit "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" since it opened in February. Its run ended Sunday.

The previous record holder, "Body Worlds," was attended by about 603,000 visitors during its six-month run at The Franklin Institute.

Museum officials said the Tut exhibition, featuring treasures found in the tomb of the Egyptian boy-king, also was the most attended museum exhibition in Pennsylvania history.

Since opening in June 2005, the traveling Tut exhibit has drawn about 4 million visitors, setting attendance records in cities including Los Angeles, Chicago and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.