ROYAL ONTARIO MUSEUM WELCOMES ONE MILLIONTH VISITOR

Highest Attendance in ROM’s history
***
Over 70,000 Enjoy March Break at the ROM

The ROM is delighted to announce its one millionth general admission visitor.

This marks the highest general admission attendance in the ROM’s history. General admission attendance includes school visits and does not include special events and ticketed adult and children’s programs.

John Corvaci, 26, of Hamilton, on a date with girlfriend Adina Marcu, received a surprise greeting yesterday by ROM dino mascots Gordo and Gertie, as well as a one-year ROM Family Membership and dinner at c5 Restaurant Lounge, located at the pinnacle of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal.

“I haven great memories of coming to the ROM as a kid and seeing the dinosaurs”, said Corvaci. “This is my first time back since then”.

It was Marcu’s first visit to the ROM, who came to see the Diamonds exhibit on its final day before closing. Marcu was thrilled with what she referred to as the “VIP treatment” they received on arrival.

“The ROM had a terrific March Break last week with 71,675 people coming to visit, more than five per cent higher than last year,” said William Thorsell, ROM Director and CEO. “Scores of visitors enjoyed the Museum’s family-friendly activities, many of which continue next weekend as part of March is Egypt Month.”

One million general admission visitors surpasses even previous general admissions records set by the ROM in 2001/2002 (Great Asian Dinosaurs!) and 1999/2000 (Egyptian Art in the Age of Pyramids).

ROM visitors this year enjoyed, among other offerings, Darwin: The Evolution Revolution , the recently closed The Nature of Diamonds, Mysteries of Ancient Ukraine: The Remarkable Trypilian Culture (5400–2700 BC) and as well as the new permanent galleries created as part of Renaissance ROM.

The ROM sold approximately 1,900 memberships during the ten-day period of March break. This represents an increase from last year despite current economic times, indicating that visitors appreciate the value of membership. After visiting the ROM twice, a family membership pays for itself - and includes many value added features such as sneak previews, free tickets to blockbuster exhibitions, ROM Magazine,and members' only programs.

For a limited time, visitors are invited to view the exhibit Out of the Vaults: Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead. The recently conserved Book of the Dead of Amen-em-hat, seen in its full beauty for the first time in over 2,300 years, will be displayed until May 10, 2009.

The ROM looks forward to the year ahead, eagerly anticipating Dead Sea Scrolls: Words that Changed the World, one of the most important exhibitions in the history of the ROM. It is on display at the ROM from June 27, 2009 to January 3, 2010.

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                     Lynn Krogh (212) 497-9114
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