- Date April 21, 2009
- Time 7:30 p.m
- Location Chicago, IL
- Price Single Tickets: Member $22; General Public $24
Photograph courtesy Peter Athans
Mountaineer Peter Athans
Photograph by Robert MackinlaySince the fifth century, when a Chinese poet wrote of a hidden utopia for faithful Buddhists, people have fantasized about those magical places where people live long lives in health and harmony—and adventurers have sought to find them.
In 2007 Peter Athans, renowned mountaineer and veteran of seven Mount Everest summits, joined forces with fellow climber Broughton Coburn to explore a series of caves in the remote Himalayan kingdom of Mustang, an area that had previously been off-limits to outsiders. In a subterranean chamber, 14,000 feet up, they found a gigantic 55-panel mural from the 13th century depicting important Buddhist sages and 11th century Tibetan manuscripts, suggesting a gathering place for a large religious community—perhaps the sort of meditative, self-sufficient community that inspired the myth of Shangri-la.
News accounts of the discovery spread quickly, generating an estimated 800 articles worldwide. Concerned that the attention they had brought to this previously inaccessible valley might pose a threat to its masterpieces, Athans and Coburn returned in 2008 with a multidisciplinary team to properly document, study, and begin to preserve the treasures.
Travel with Athans to explore this remarkable Tibetan site that is shedding light on the spread of Buddhism through the Himalaya.
The Chicago Field Museum
The James Simpson Theatre
1400 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL, US
60605
Telephone: +1 312 922 9410
Lat/Lon: 41.862567900000002, -87.618689399999994
Our 2009–10 Season is now underway.
Ticket ordering and other information for people attending our NG Live! events in Chicago.
Event Sponsors
| Events | Location | Date | Tickets |
| Events | Location | Date | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polar Obsession with Paul Nicklen | Chicago, IL | December 8, 2009 | Buy Tickets |
| Africa Through the Lens with Michael Davie | Chicago, IL | February 2, 2010 | Buy Tickets |
| Waking the Baby Mammoth with Daniel Fisher | Chicago, IL | March 9, 2010 | Buy Tickets |
| The Big Thaw with James Balog | Chicago, IL | April 13, 2010 | Buy Tickets |
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