The ancient Egyptians may have walked the earth thousands of years ago, but their enduring legacy continues to live on at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose. Housing the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts west of the Mississippi, this fascinating museum also offers visitors a glimpse into this forward-thinking civilization through interactive exhibits, rare artifacts and more.

The museum was founded in 1928 by Dr. H. Spencer Lewis, president of the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC (Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis), an organization dedicated to studying natural laws in order to be able to live in harmony with them. Since then, the museum has grown to include a host of incredible objects in a building fashioned after the famous Temple of Amun in Karnak, Egypt. As visitors make their way through each gallery, they learn about important aspects of Egyptian society, including daily life and trades; kings and pharaohs; religion; and burial practices, the afterlife and mummies.

Here you can indulge your inner Indiana Jones by descending into the life-size composite replica of rock-cut tombs with elaborate hieroglyphs; take a virtual tour of a real-life Egyptian temple; and attend workshops on mummy wrapping and hieroglyph writing.

There’s no shortage of artifacts on display, some of which are must-see items that are exclusive to the museum. These include a Ptolemaic-period Cleopatra VII statue, which is one of only seven statues of her known to exist today; a mummy bearing a five-inch metal pin in his leg from an early medical procedure done while he was still alive; and a rare bust of the famous “Boy King” Tutankhamon.

Other highlights include a 3,500-year-old wooden board used to play senet, a popular game in antiquity, as well as a life-size senet board outside on the grounds; a 2,500-year-old incense burner; and a planetarium where you can view the film “The Mithraic Mysteries,” (Mon-Fri, 2pm and Sat-Sun, 2 & 3:30pm) about the Roman Mithraic mystery religion.

Take a break from the excitement and head to the Peace Garden, modeled after a sanctuary from Egypt's 18th dynasty, where you can cool off under a raised dais; learn about plants indigenous to Egypt; and have a quiet moment by the reflection pool. You just might need it to absorb all you’ve learned at this one-of-a-kind museum.

THIS MONTH AT THE MUSEUM:  

Unlock the mysteries of the Western Esoteric tradition with Hidden in Plain Sight: The Influence of Western Esoteric Movements on Modern Thought (July 22-25). Sponsored by the Rosicrucian Order, this three-day event features scholars and practitioners who specialize in such fields as alchemy, Kabbalah, Gnosticism, ancient Egyptian spirituality and Christian Esotericism. This conference, the first of its kind, explores how influential western esoteric traditions have been on modern thought, and how they can still be applied today for the good of humanity and planet earth. 

According to ancient mythology, the calendar year included only 360 days, plus five additional “epagomenal” days, during which the goddesses Isis and Nephthys and gods Osiris, Seth and Horus were born. That’s cause enough for some serious celebrating with the Epagomenal Festival (July 24-25), featuring tomb tours, hieroglyphic workshops, lectures and programs. Additional family-friendly activities include ancient Egyptian games and an exciting scavenger hunt. 11-6 both days.

Museum hours: Mon-Thurs, 9-5; Fri, 9-8; Sat-Sun, 11-6

Location/Info: 1660 Park Ave., San Jose; 408/947-3635; www.RosicrucianEgyptianMuseum.org

Photo credits: Top, Egyptian-revival architecture at Rosicrucian Park; below, a life-size replica of King Tut's golden sarcophagus