The vision was ambitious, especially for 1918: the Palace of Merenptah, displayed at full, monumental height in a gallery specifically designed to showcase artifacts excavated by Penn researchers in Egypt and Nubia.
Monuments Rising
The Penn Museum is transforming the Ancient Egypt and Nubia Galleries
Spring 2026
Everything seemed to be going smoothly; the artifacts had survived the transatlantic voyage intact, and newspapers buzzed with news of the collection being “one of the largest and finest in the world.” Yet when the time came, revised calculations revealed that the gallery’s floor was unable to support the weight of the palace’s gargantuan columns, and large sections of the palace remained in storage.
Today, the vision is finally being realized—stone by heavy stone.
The largest renovation in the Penn Museum’s 139-year-history, the multi-story transformation of the 14,000-square-foot Ancient Egypt and Nubia Galleries will unveil the Palace of Merenptah in its full glory (opening 2029). The Museum’s extensive artifact collections will also be newly displayed alongside the 4,300-year-old Tomb Chapel of Kaipure, an architectural marvel composed of nearly 100 carved and painted limestone blocks (opening December 12, 2026).
This monumental effort has been supported at every step by philanthropy—including a Matching Challenge gift from Bernard and Lisa Selz. “This landmark undertaking would not have been possible without donor support,” says Christopher Woods, Williams Director of the Penn Museum. “We are especially grateful to Bernard and Lisa Selz for their leadership in providing a matching gift, which has already helped generate more than $2.5 million in other donations toward the final stages of this transformation.”
Double your impact through the Selz Matching Challenge, available while funds last. For more information on giving opportunities, contact Katie Murtha at kmurtha@upenn.edu.
