The
exhibition, entitled "Encounters: UFO Experience,"
presented by Intergalactic Brands, will feature more than 200
original artifacts, conceptual models, and documented film clips and
recordings that support claims of ancient encounters through modern
day sightings.
The
exhibition will feature seven galleries that will showcase ancient
alien encounters, the military's role in modern sightings, and pop
culture's fascination with extraterrestrial life. Interactive aspects
of the exhibition will enable visitors to personally experience an
alien abduction that is based on observations and
reports from alien abductees.
Encounters
will allow visitors to learn more about the evidence surrounding
famous UFO events in places like Area 51 and Roswell, and to reach
their own conclusions about the many conspiracy theories
swirling around such events. Inaddition,
the exhibition's abduction experience will provide site, sound and
sensory involvement in an interactive experience based on thousands
of eye witness accounts of alien
abductions.
The
space travel gallery provides
an impressive tour of past
and present propulsion systems and how they
have contributed to modern day space programs. Science Fiction will
also get its time in the spotlight as the Pop Culturegallery brings
visitors face to face with replicas of props from Hollywood
productions like ET, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, and Men In
Black.
"For
the first time ever, people will experience the first comprehensive
look at alien encounters all in one place," said Brian Bouquet
of The Event Agency, the company responsible for developing the
exhibition. "The unique and extraordinary content in our
galleries have been provided by UFOlogists from around the world.
Without the resources of these private collectors, this exhibition
would not be possible. We plan to keep Encounters dynamic and fresh,
so we'll always be looking for more contributions to
the story it tells."
The
Myrtle Beach, S.C. area was selected as the site to premier
Encounters because of its convenient location along the East Coast
and its popularity among vacationers -- 14 million of which visit the
seaside town each year. But the major reason for choosing Myrtle
Beach for the world premier is the area's connection to alien
encounters. Sightings over the Myrtle Beach region have been reported
for nearly 50 years. One of the largest sightings of UFOs occurred in
August 2012 when hundreds of people witnessed what appeared to be a
large mother ship rendez-vousing with a smaller flying craft over
North Myrtle Beach.
"The
coastal area around Myrtle Beach has a well-documented history of
multiple UFO
sightings," said Bouquet. "In 2012 alone,
59 sightings were reported. Our company has staged successful
exhibitions at Broadway at the Beach for the last two years. And,
given Myrtle Beach's interest in UFOs, it seemed like the ideal place
to launch what we expect will be an exhibition that will
eventually travel
around the world."
The
family-friendly exhibition will be located on the northeastern side
of Broadway at the Beach in a building distinguished by a flying
saucer bursting from its side. Days of operation in April and May
will be limited to Thursday through Sunday. Summer hours will
be announced at
a later date.
"We
expect Encounters to be a very popular attraction at Broadway at the
Beach," said Patrick Walsh, senior vice president of asset
management with the Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc., which owns
Broadway at the Beach. "Whether you're a science fact or a
science fiction fan or just curious about intergalactic travel and
its implications for the people of earth, you'll find this exhibition
to be immersive, entertaining and very, very memorable."
