Móra Museum’s Ice Age exhibit welcomed 50,000th visitor
The Móra Ferenc Museum in Szeged welcomed its 50,000th visitor to its Ice Age exhibition on Monday, marking another milestone for what museum officials say is one of their most successful exhibitions to date.
Mária Hoffman, a retired teacher, attended the exhibit with her grandchildren from Budapest and was greeted as the 50,000th guest.
The exhibition opened in two phases earlier this year. The first section, focusing on Ice Age humans, debuted on May 9. A second section, The Mysterious Ice Age, opened in June during the nationwide Night of Museums event.
“This is one of the most successful exhibitions in our museum’s history,” said Ottó Fogas, the museum’s director.
Spanning more than 1,000 square meters across seven rooms in the museum’s main building, the exhibit includes life-size animal and skeleton reconstructions, a section comparing ancient and modern climate, and numerous interactive elements aimed at families and children.
The show was years in the making, with preparations involving extensive logistical planning. Some of the display materials were borrowed from both Hungarian and international museums, while large-scale animal reconstructions were shipped from China. At the peak of assembly, up to 40 people were working on the project, according to Fogas.
Visitors from Csongrád-Csanád County make up the largest share of attendees, many combining the exhibit with other local events. Szeged residents form the second-largest group. The show has proven especially popular among families with young children — many of whom return for repeat visits.
The moving, sound-producing mammoth sculpture outside the museum remains a crowd favorite, along with the immersive displays inside. Free weekend guided tours continue to be a major draw.
Among long-distance visitors, the largest group comes from Budapest. According to visitor surveys, most of them travel specifically to see the Ice Age exhibit and often extend their stay in Szeged to explore other attractions in the area.
The exhibition is scheduled to remain open through January 10, 2026.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
Featured image: Szilvia Molnar / Szegedify
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