I had a great time seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls! This was something I didn't think I'd ever get the chance to do again, and I'm really glad to have had the opportunity. I was postponing going because it was so expensive to attend the exhibit, but the half-off price that Gold Star offered convinced me to go.

I did not like how this exhibit was displayed. Because of the number of people seeing the exhibit it was very difficult to get close enough to view most items. The actual scrolls were especially difficult to see (I only saw one small section) because of the way they were displayed and the crowds. I'm glad my ticket allowed me admission into the rest of the museum, otherwise I feel the ticket would have been a complete waste of money.

The exhibit was excellent with a lot of background history. My favorite part was the brief video of the story of how the scrolls were found and "preserved" initially--with scotch tape! The line to get into the exhibit moved very slowly due to the pre-show that was limited to 65 audience members at a time.

content was terrific; presentation was problematic. Too much noise from different parts of the exhibit itself (speaker in first section could be heard in 2nd section while trying to read); 10 commandments & movie words drifted into fragment room as well (making it hard to read) as from the general museum in one passageway. We were not offered the audio aid and discovered this about 1/2 way through the exhibit. This would have enhanced our visit.

A once in a lifetime opportunity to see the oldest writings ever discovered that shaped the history of the world.
Very interesting the ways that these were attempted to be restored when they were discovered back in 1948. Who knew that scotch tape even existed back then?

Very well presented. Loved seeing the pieces of the actual scrolls. The videos and huge surround screens were very effective.

A must see; incredible archeological artifacts. Do not miss this exhibit!

Had a great time. Very informative

Overwhelming displays. Anyone of any religion will be amazed at the historical information.

Nicely presented and knowledgeable exhibition.

Very informative and enjoyable. We started at 3pm and Franklin Institute closed at 5pm. Due to the lines at each area, we definitely didn't get to see it all. The event could be laid out better so that more people can view an item at once. But the information itself was good.

I thought the exhibit was wonderful.

Great exhibit! The items included are amazing. We loved it!

Very interesting exhibit covering the life & events of the time the scrolls were written.

To view these items was incredible, just thought the layout of the exhibition was not condusive to large crowds...lines were long as people listened to audio program. If items were in cubes in middle of room, so more people could stand around them, versus being set into the wall, it would have been better.

The Dead Sea Scrolls was an outstanding experience: emotional, educational, awe inspiring. So glad we (3 of us) went. Also were able to see two planetarium shows that same day. Only downside: one friend was too ill to go with us and when I went to your website, I found that there is absolutely NO REFUND even for an emergency (which this unfortunately was). Since I bought the four tickets, I am having to absorb the cost of the unused tickets.

A couple of short presentations by very nice & very knowledgable people, and then many displays of artifacts from ancient times, which are displayed in a way that can be seen up close. The scrolls exhibit is very well set-up and just wonderful to see and again,displayed in a way that is easy to see up close.So glad we went , thoroughly enjoyable. Thanks to Goldstar tickets for the discount and making this affordable.

Wonderful!

I had a wonderful day and the exhibit was well done. I feel lucky that I was able to see this and I learned so much. Thank you Goldstar for making it more affordable.

An amazing exhibit! My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed this "Dead Sea Scroll" exhibit. It was very informative. We also purchased the audio tour which enhanced the exhibit. We read all the information provided for each artifact. We are fortunate to be able to view these artifacts and learn so much history. I'm thankful that these precious pieces are being so well preserved so that many generations to come will have this wonderful opportunity.

Great event, the kids really enjoyed it and were fascinated by the artifacts and history. Well worth going, no wait and some nice items in the gift area too.

It was not what I expected. The scrolls themselves were so small one couldn't make them out. The insets around them had captions that were too high for children to read. Only worthwhile things were the entrance with the red sea breaking upon the shore...and the videotaped section.

Not worth the price of admission.

Very long intro. history and background leading to the awesome scrolls. It took us three hours to wander through the exhibit. As a cantor, I was overcome with ability to see Psalm 103 in ancient script.

Amazing exhibit with original artifacts from over 3,000 years ago. There was a great deal of everyday objects(houshold objects, coins, tools altars and ritualistic items like altars and incense burners that had been excavated from the surrounding community where the dead sea scrolls were found). I got a good sense of the historical period and was amazed at the good condition of these ancient objects. The scrolls were amazing but I found the other exhibits equally awesome. The design and display of the exhibit was very well thought out.

Very interesting- learned quite a bit.

Difficult to put into words seeing pieces of the original transcriptions of the Bible and artifacts 3000+ years old, some of which had direct references in the Bible. Was slightly disappointed that there weren't more of the scrolls there, but understand that they must be protected and cannot travel. Only negative was the volume of the live feed from the Wall in Jerusalem which over powered a video of the discovery which we were watching across the room.

Excellent event. Instead of just a movie clip of introduction
The museum had guides actually speaking to the audience .
Giving explanation in addition to stills be put up On 6 screens which
Made viewing very easy for a large crowd.
Exhibit was incredible.

Phenomenal presentation with huge video images and LIvE introduction by a guide who welcomes you with a well-written overview of the things that led up to the discovery of these scrolls. Well worth attending on a weekday or early on a weekend day! I came in for the day via NJ transit train from
NYC, very easy!!! I would DEFINITELY suggest that you pay about $6 extra at the museum to see their OUTRAGEOUS IMAX THEaTre!!!! FAb!!!

Wish I had a few days to spend in that exhibit! So much history came to life.

the exhibit is very well laid out and accessible. a good balance between the scrolls themselves and life during that time. the intro was well done and engaging.

a huge benefit is that you can avoid the long lines for tickets and go straight to the will call booth. we must have saved at least 1/2 hour by being able to do this.

To be able to see even just fragments of such a pivotal archeological find as this was actually emotional for me. I have read, heard and learned about the Dead Sea Scrolls since I was a student. It was remarkable to be able to witness for myself these fragments. Indeed, a once in a lifetime experience.

Too crowded. You had to listen to two different people speak to you before you entered the exhibit. Had to wait in long line to see items on display. People with the audio guide would stand in front of one object the entire time they were listening and not move. The items should have been spread out more or in the center of the room with a line on both sides. The Dead Sea Scrolls were just tiny little pieces of torn paper that you could hardly see. Very disappointing.

While the exhibit was educational it was extremely limited in artifacts. Lots of urns, pots, bowls, etc. There were films and other enhancements. What it lacked were the scrolls. Understandably, they are extremely rare and valuable but the smattering of pieces and the quality of their display left me wondering what it was I actually just saw. This exhibit really lacked substance.

I learned a lot and it was full of interesting video, archeological pieces and chronological timelines to make it easy to follow.

I went because I wanted to see the scrolls. But the event was much more - with many fascinating archeological finds that really gave a good idea of life in those times. Some of the artifacts were tiny and hard to see even with magnification. I am not sure they added much. Also one of the rooms had sand on part of the floor for realism, but the speaker kept chasing everyone off the sand. That was pretty silly. Some of the scrolls were also impossible to see. I realize the condition of these scrolls is what it is. But I am not sure including such a scroll adds much. Those caveats aside, the exhibit was fascinating and educational.

Excellent! A scholar's exhibit. My son is a Biblical archeologist (1 of his finds was on exhibit), and we spent hours looking at all the artifacts!

very interesting . learned a lot

Well "staged"; an awesome presentation; great visit. Lots of information.

This event is a must see! The Goldstar price made it affordable for our family. Seeing actual Dead sea scrolls is getting a piece of history that is hard to describe and the other artifacts were really interesting too.

As someone who has read a great deal about the Dead Sea Scrolls, I was happy to see these precious documents; however, the severe Western/Israeli perspective at the opening presentation (delivered by a very good narrator) was difficult to swallow. The presentation almost wholeheartedly celebrated the 1948 event which resulted in so many people being permanently displaced from their homes, without passport or aid. I am not anti-Jewish, but I do not agree with how the powers-that-were handled this. There were actually two Arab-Americans there (speaking both Arabic and English) who were shaking their heads at the presentation, and I felt bad about this representation. The world should look at both perspectives with more sensitivity. It is not a Jewish vs. Muslim issue; it is a state issue which may never see a clear resolve. (I am an American Christian, BTW.) I understand that there was a severe slant due to sponsorship of the exhibit, but, I would challenge a scholarly institution to leave politics out of the discussion, or at least present a more balanced presentation.

The Dead Sea Scroll exhibit is worth your time and money! Very interesting.

wow...really underwhelmeing

It was great. So well done and educatonal and informative and spellbinding. Too bad some people read so slowly, but that is life. Glad I did it and would do it agian if the opportunity arose.

I thought I would see scrolls not bits and pieces. Watching the History channel, is deceiving. It all looks intact. I also don't like BCE, it's BC.

Well done, easy pace, audio guide very helpful. It was quite cool, as advised in the exhibit spaces.
Note- The gift shop has a smallish paperback guide 'on sale.' It is quite valuable, as it includes all the scrolls that are in rotation for the exhibit, not just the ones you are viewing on any given day!

it is easy enough to just read what the Franklin Institute web site has published and you learn the story--but being there you are amazed at how all those artifacts could really be here today. The installation itself is very handsome and easy to follow--Do it if you have even a slight interest but are curious.Not for kids--but there is plenty of other stuff to do in the bldg for kids.

Excellent presentation. We went on a Tuesday morning and encountered no crowds. The artifacts on display were a plus feature and well documented and displayed. The fact that we could take pictures was unexpected but appreciated. I would love to go once again before this leaves the area, as I'm sure I missed something!

A great day! Enjoyed the exhibit.

Very informative exhibit. The only negative was at the very beginning, when you enter the room where there are artifacts. There is a glare that makes it very difficult to read the information so the line was moving extremely slow. Once we left that room it moved at your own rate. The Institute is kept very cold though so wear a sweater or jacket!

It was disappointing. I can see why attendance is so low.

awesome...not to be missed

We enjoyed this event. The ancient artifacts were amazing.

We enjoyed the exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the artifacts. We took about an hour and a half and saw it all. A good time to go is when it first opens in the morning--no crowd.

The museum event presented a historical and secular viewpoint. It was very informative and well documented. No matter what your religious background or opinion, the information presented will provide additional education on this subject.

We went on July 4 in the early afternoon. The museum was not busy and I was able to walk right up to the Membership desk and collect my tickets. We were told we could walk right in any time. The staff member waited until there were about 10 people in line to begin the tour. It started with a brief film, then another brief film narrated by a docent and highlighting three artifacts. After that, we were free to wander the exhibit at our own pace. We were allowed to take photographs until we reached the room with the actual scrolls at the end of the tour. The fragments are damaged by light, so even the cases were kept dimly lit. I was thrilled to finally see the scrolls I've heard about all my life as a Bible student. My one disappointment was that only about a dozen out of some 900 were on display, and most of those were small fragments. On leaving the exhibit, we saw a sign stating that ten more scrolls were coming later. Why weren't they already there? On the whole, I enjoyed the experience very much. Please be aware that the advertised ticket price is before additional charges. With the Goldstar deal, each ticket came to $20...still a bargain.

I attended this event with two other adults, a 15-year-old, and a six-year-old. We enjoyed the exhibit (note that photography is allowed only at the start) and the Franklin Institute in general. However, the entire building was very, very cold (and we did not bring sweaters outside temperature was in the 90's).

Cool indoor temperature is understandable for certain exhibits, but it seemed too cool anywhere we went - even the gift shop. We would have stayed longer but were just too uncomfortable. It would have been nice if there had been some kind of warning.

Overall, thank you, Goldstar, for making this event so affordable.

Excellent. Well done and interesting. Suggest that you leave at least 11/2 hours to do it justice.
Go soon as original scroll material may be replaced.

The event was presented in an interesting way with 3-D wall size projections, a few different narrators, displays with written explanations and interactive computer presentations. It was sensitive in multicultural and religious ways as well. The scrolls themselves were encased in a large circular display that allowed many viewers to get up close to them at one time and translations were easily read. What really impressed me was the attention given to placing the scrolls in history-- what the area looked like at that time, way of life, government, languages, religious ways etc.,,, It was informative, interesting and thought provoking. Glad we went!

very well-organized

You are brought into a live introduction to the scrolls, then continue on to explore for yourselves. First on display are vessels like the ones that contained the scrolls, as well as other items like different types of coins from that period. There are oil jars, dining plates & mugs, and even a bathtub. Everything is prominately dislayed with appropriate descriptions, but you could rent an audio tour to enhance your experience. At the very end are the scrolls in a circular display case, which offers a close up view with translations next to them. They have films playing which shows how the scrolls were discovered.

Wonderful presentation-

The event was amazing. It's hard to believe that this information has been around for this long. I loved the way the entire exhibit was tied together. Every person should be required to view this exhibit. I had never heard of Goldstar until I purchased the tickets and when I look at all of the incredible deals that you have, I will be back.

Go to this event...a professional set-up and quite a learning experience. You will not be dissapointed!

The exhibit was a fascinating collection of artifacts from the Iron Age to the early centuries AD. The documentation traced the turbulent history of the Dead Sea area through the artifacts that were displayed. The 12 Dead Sea Scrolls exhibited were generally translated, where possible, line by line. All in all, it was very worthwhile, if not overwhelming with the amount of detail and content. My only suggestion would be that the artifacts could have been presented in chronological order rather than random (Although perhaps there was a reason for their being presented this way that I missed.) We purchased the headphones for a reasonable price of $6. The additional commentary was very interesting. However, if you wanted to save some money, the written explanations could suffice.

Absolutely fascinating to see the scrolls. My favorite part was learning about the original care of the scrolls immediately after their discovery - including the use of scotch tape (!!) to hold pieces together.

A very good male speaker gave us some background information at the start of this show. He was very good and informative. The pieces in the show are amazing and they save the best (the scrolls) 'til last. Even if you're not a religious person like myself, you will find the history and interpretation very interesting. We went early in the day to avoid the crowds.

Exhibition well conceived and presented. My sister who accompanied me had been to Jerusalem and thought it was excellent.

An oustanding exhibition, user friendly and very informative.

It was outstanding. Very glad we went. Also very glad we went on a weekday afternoon as we could easily read/see/roam as we wanted without big crowds.

The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the Philadelphia Franklin Institute was very well presented. The artifacts are mounted and described well. However, the exhibit does not "flow" and starting and ending points are confusing. Also, it was extremely noisy in the exhibit preventing adequate hearing of the film. The Institute picks the time of your viewing - ask for a time when no school children are touring.