August 24, 79 A.D. was not a great day to be home in Pompeii, Italy. That’s when the volcano Mount Vesuvius erupted violently and unexpectedly, smothering the nearby towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum and more than 20,000 people. The death toll is unknown, but the remains of more than 1,500 people have been unearthed. Pompeii: The Exhibition spent six months (February-July 2024) at the Cincinnati Museum Center displaying 150 preserved artifacts from the volcanic destruction— frescoes, gladiator armor, statues, jewelry and everyday items that recreated everyday life in Pompeii. It was fantastically popular. cincinnatiartmuseum.org.