The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is an educational institution that uses transdisciplinary approaches to increasing knowledge about the past, present, and future, especially related to diversity and relationships in nature and among cultures.

We provide collection-based research and learning for greater public understanding and appreciation of the world in which we live, drawing on the wisdom of ancient traditions and modern science. Its collection, public learning programs, and collaborative research are inseparably linked to serve a diverse public of varied ages, backgrounds, and knowledge.

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Learn more about Egypt

Our interns are excited to share some detailed information about their favorite artifacts within the museum. Click on one of the videos below to learn more about Ancient Egypt. For more information about becoming an intern visit our internship program page.

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History

The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum began with one small artifact, a Sekhmet (lion goddess) statue, which stood on the desk of H. Spencer Lewis, the founder of the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC.

AMORC, which was founded in 1915, is a philosophical and educational public benefit (501c3) organization. Rosicrucian students study, along with other subjects, the wisdom of the ancient mystery schools, including those of ancient Egypt.

In the 1920s, AMORC supported the excavations of the Egypt Exploration Society in Tell el-Amarna (Akhetaten), the city of the Pharaoh Akhnaton. In gratitude, the Egypt Exploration Society donated several artifacts from their finds to AMORC.

H. Spencer Lewis encouraged members to add to this collection, which they did.

In 1927, H. Spencer Lewis conceived of a public collection. He had glass cases built for the artifacts on the second floor of AMORC’s Administration building.

In 1929, AMORC sponsored an initiatic journey through Egypt, led by H. Spencer Lewis. This trip generated much enthusiasm, which resulted in additional donations of artifacts and funds for the Museum. By 1932 the collection had outgrown its second-floor home, so an additional building was constructed – the Rosicrucian Egyptian Oriental Museum.

Ralph M. Lewis, H. Spencer Lewis’s son and successor as Imperator of AMORC, directed the growth of the Museum over the next few decades. By the early 1960s, the Museum’s collection had grown to more than 2,000 artifacts. A fully modern and larger museum facility was needed at this time. In 1965, Ralph Lewis personally led the research team that explored many tombs and temples in Egypt, on which the new Museum building was modeled. In November 1966, the new Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum opened.

Today, the Museum, with over 4,000 artifacts, houses the largest collection of authentic Ancient Egyptian artifacts on display in western North America. The Museum hosts more than 100,000 guests per year, including 26,000 schoolchildren.

The Museum highly values collaborative research, and in recent years has worked on projects alongside many institutions, including Stanford University Hospital, UCLA, NASA Ames Biocomputation Center, the British Museum, National Geographic’s Mummy Road Show, and others.

The Museum’s future looks promising with new exhibits, tours, and workshops, with continuing research and scholarship, and with a perennial commitment to education and service.