700,000 years of Egyptian history finds enormous new home

A giant staircase rises to the top of the museum, lined with some of the most pristine statues of the rulers of ancient Egypt. 

At the top, a spectacular view of the pyramids opens up with a soaring ceiling. The galleries are lined with state-of-the-art cases with historic statues offering glimpses into the daily lives of not just the kings and queens but also ordinary people.

The grand museum also takes an equally grand time to fully tour.

“It will take you at least one or two hours to see at least maybe 20% of the statues,” Hawass said.

Each piece, including huge royal busts carved in granite and the gold necklaces with turquoise and coral and the several-feet-long preserved papyrus, is given enough space to be appreciated in a thoroughly modern and tranquil environment.

“They are telling the history of ancient Egypt, how the people lived together, the fear and hopes of the Egyptians,” Abbas said. 

Among the museum’s grandest collections is the gold mask of Tutankhamun.

The mask, which has survived grave robbers and clumsy restorations efforts, will be kept in its own room in the climate-controlled museum, Hawass said.

In 2017, before the coronavirus pandemic slowed its construction, NBC News was given exclusive access to the Grand Egyptian Museum’s backroom stores with Tutankhamun’s beautifully crafted bows, wine and even fresh underpants buried 3,347 years ago. The embalmed remains of his stillborn daughters remain in ornate caskets.