The National Museum of Australia is rejoicing in the news that its exhibition Discovering Ancient Egypt has smashed all records for previous shows, with, at last count, 196,000 visits, making it the biggest blockbuster in the museum’s 23-year history.

Running a close second in popularity since the museum’s opening in 2001 has been A History of the World in 100 Objects, from the British Museum, which ran from 2016 to 2017 and recorded 178,220 visits.

From the museum’s modelling, it looks likely that the Egyptian exhibition, which opened on December 15, will pass 200,000 visits by the time it closes on September 8.

From the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities, the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, the show features 220 objects never previously seen in Canberra and dating from 3700 BCE to the 16th century CE, including decorated coffins, ornate sculptures, Book of the Dead scrolls, jewellery and mummified people and animals, including a cat and a crocodile.

NMA director Katherine McMahon said the exhibition offered people the opportunity to immerse themselves in an ancient culture enduring over many thousands of years and that continues to inspire and intrigue…”People should get in while they can.”

Discovering Ancient Egypt, National Museum of until September 8.