Take a Delicious Journey Through "Chocolate: The Exhibition"

Take a Delicious Journey Through "Chocolate: The Exhibition" BISMARCK — Chocolate. The word conjures up visions of candy bars, hot fudge sundaes, rich brownies and other indulgences, yet chocolate’s origin as a bitter seed found deep in the rainforest has been known for thousands of years. “Chocolate: The Exhibition” — open at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum from May 27 to Sept. 6 — engages all the senses as visitors trace the story of chocolate from its earliest cultivation among the ancient Maya to its status today as the world’s favorite sweet treat. In this bilingual exhibition, visitors of all ages can enjoy immersive exhibits, fun interactives, and detailed replicas that place chocolate under the lenses of science, history and popular culture. Stand under a life-size cacao tree and examine the pods and seeds that are the source of chocolate. See replicas of Maya vessels that once held the cacao drinks of kings and nobles. Barter for precious cacao seeds in an interactive Aztec market experience. See European silver and porcelain chocolate servers, examples of 19th- and 20th-century advertising, and tools and techniques used for processing chocolate and creating delicious treats. Learn about fair trade chocolate and the relationship between cocoa farmers, chocolate companies and consumers. Discover your “chocolate personality” with a fun game, and shop for chocolate treats and goodies. “From its earliest roots among ancient peoples to its dominant role as a global commodity, chocolate is a study in world history,” said Kim Jondahl, Communications & Education director. “Visitors will engage in an experience that not only shows how chocolate came to be such a delicious treat but also how its rise to fame and fortune has impacted cultures and our planet along the way.” The Museum Store and James River Café at the ND Heritage Center will feature specialty chocolate treats and chocolate drinks available only during this exhibit. Advance tickets for admission to “Chocolate: The Exhibition” can be purchased at statemuseum.nd.gov. “Chocolate: The Exhibition” and its national tour were developed by The Field Museum, Chicago. This project was supported, in part, by the National Science Foundation.