How can anyone not be interested in Vikings? Seriously! I have always loved reading about Vikings. And the Viking TV show on the History Channel is one of my favorite shows. The Vikings were brutal warriors, but they also understood how to farm, live among one another, and were excellent at navigating the seas.
If you follow my blog, you know that I also love Discovery Times Square. They offer a rotating display and in the past have featured Harry Potter, Lego, and Avengers exhibits. Currently, it’s running an exhibit on Star Wars costumes. Recently, they added a Viking exhibit. And when I saw the billboard on the subway, I knew I had to visit.
I brought my 4 kids with me: ages 11, 9, 4, and an infant. Since strollers are not permitted, I wore my baby in a Baby Bjorn, and it is always nice to have her close. We arrived when the museum opened at 10:00 a.m. to avoid any crowds, which was great because my kids could move freely without having too many people to maneuver around.
My 11-year-old found anything related to fighting fascinating. There were swords, knives, and even skulls. At one station, you can lift a sword and feel the weight of what a Viking had to swing around in order to live to see another day. My oldest also enjoyed reading in detail all the information that was provided at each stop.
My 9-year-old could not look away from a skull that needed some medieval medical treatment; a drill had been driven into the skull to relieve whatever ailed the man. She also enjoyed viewing the many articles of clothing and pieces of jewelry.
As for the 4-year-old, he loved hearing about Thor – the god the Vikings worshipped. The exhibit included detailed information about Thor and Loki, his brother. My 4-year-old also found every interactive station (of which there were many), which kept him occupied while the rest of us took our time making our way through the exhibit.
I loved the Rune stones. To see up close markers that someone painstakingly chiseled in stone so long ago was moving. The expert markings that were done with crude tools mesmerized me.
In short, there was something for everyone at the Vikings exhibit at Discovery Time Square. The Viking exhibit is not permanent, however, so if you are interested, visit now and allow about 1 to 2 hours to see and read everything. Note that there are no restrooms once you enter the exhibit area, so stop by the restroom after getting your tickets.
Hours:
Sunday-Tuesday: 10am – 7pm
Wednesday – Thursday: 10am -8pm
Friday-Saturday: 10am – 9pm
For tickets, click here:
Discovery Times Square is located at 226 West 44th St in NYC.
Disclaimer: I was provided tickets for my review, but the words are my own.