Everywhere you go in Downtown Raleigh right now, your eye will catch one of these signs.

"The Dead Sea Scrolls" are now on display at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science.

Approach the building, and you'll see some Hebrew notations on the banner, and thanks to the Israel Antiquities Authority.

I've been through the exhibit - and all I can say is it's well worth the $22 ticket ($15 for Friends of the Museum).

You won't be allowed to take any photographs, so don't worry about bringing the camera.

But allow plenty of time.  You'll want to soak in the details.

The first thing you'll do is be issued a hand-held "wand" to place up to your ear.  The exhibits are self-paced, so as you pass each numbered station, you'll enter the corresponding number on the wand to hear the narrator speak.

You may need to wait in line, but when you do enter the exhibit on the second floor, you'll enter a cave that transports you to the Holy Land.

There are artifacts and exhibits, photos and bits of pottery.  There are elaborate chests and pottery jars.  And there is so much history.  You'll learn how the scrolls were found, and learn about the remnants of the ancient city they were near.

You'll learn about politics and culture, and about how the Dead Sea Scrolls were dated and identified.

You'll learn how Duke University had the opportunity to purchase the scrolls decades ago when they were first discovered - and turned them down. 

And finally, in a climate-controlled room with dim lights, you'll see the Dead Sea Scrolls themselves.  Each fragment is translated and displayed in a heavily protected case. 

The entire exhibit is very quiet, and probably better suited for children over 5, though all children all welcome (but no strollers allowed in the exhibit).  Do be very careful not to bring any liquids of any kind, not even a baby bottle - and no cell phones, either.   Plan to spend at least 2 hours going through each portion of the exhibit.

The Dead Sea Scrolls will be on exhibit from June 28th to December 28th at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science in Downtown Raleigh.  For ticket information, click here, or call 919.733.7450 ext. 212.

After you've had a chance to see the Dead Sea Scrolls, be sure to check out the rest of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences - which, as always, is FREE. 

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