It is fitting that one of the most signature discoveries of humankind -- a finding that has helped define a big part of our prehistory -- would take place in one of the most unusual and historic places on the planet.

As the ancient fossil known as Lucy indicates, that portion of northern East Africa we now call Ethiopia may well have been the cradle of humanity. The oldest known fossils of modern humans, dated at 190,000 years old, have been found there along with the remains of chimplike ancestors who preceded Lucy by more than 2.5 million years.

But Ethiopia's contributions certainly didn't stop with possibly launching human evolution that eventually spread these inquisitive and creative hairless apes all over the place to ultimately build skyscrapers, fly airplanes and try to drive a car while talking on a cell phone.

As the exhibit at the Pacific Science Center emphasizes, Ethiopia has continued to play a significant -- if often unrecognized -- role in the global and cultural affairs of Homo sapiens up to the present.

Ethiopia is mentioned in the Bible many times -- beginning with the book of Genesis, as Cush or Abyssinia, as perhaps the home of King Solomon's Queen of Sheba and even of one of Moses' wives. It is the only African country that successfully fought off European colonization, except for a brief occupation by Mussolini's forces during World War II. It has long been a spiritual home for strong traditional communities of Christians, Muslims, Jews and even (symbolically, at least) for the cannabis-celebrating Rastafari movement, named after the precoronation name of Ethiopia's last emperor, Haile Selassie, who was deposed the same year, 1974, that Lucy was discovered.

And, especially for Seattle residents, it is important to mention that ninth century Ethiopia also gave us coffee.

"But all anyone ever thinks about when you mention Ethiopia is famine," chuckled Ezra Teshome, a leading figure in Seattle's large Ethiopian community who moved here from Addis Ababa in 1971. "We're hoping that Lucy coming here will provide an opportunity for people to learn more about the rich culture and history of the place."

Diana Johns, the lead curator for the Lucy exhibit at the science center, worked with Teshome and others to make sure that this happens for visitors.

"People will come at the science in many different ways," Johns said, and the Ethiopian context is critical. It's impossible to talk about Lucy without talking about Ethiopia, she said, adding that it's likewise impossible to talk about Ethiopia without talking about its amazingly rich -- and sometimes peculiar -- religious and cultural history.

"Take the Ark of the Covenant, for example," Johns said. This legendary container of Moses' stone tablets -- the same ones Indiana Jones sought in the movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark" -- is said to reside under lock-and-key in a church in Axum, Ethiopia. Johns added that Haile Selassie is still celebrated by many Ethiopians as the final heir to the so-called Solomonic Dynasty (again, thanks to the Queen of Sheba) as a direct descendent of King Solomon.

It can also be hard to remember what year it is in Ethiopia. In the late 1500s, when the Christian world was ordered to change from the Julian calendar system to the Gregorian system (our current dating and time-keeping system), Ethiopia refused. As such, the country continues to stubbornly live about seven years in the past.

This fascinating East African country is not without its problems, of course. Despite its rich and proud history, it remains one of the poorest nations in the world and today has been again caught up in the midst of a food crisis. Following the toppling of Selassie, a brutal Communist regime set up shop, leading to years of strife and civil war. In the mid-1990s, a democratically elected government was established but well after that had happened elsewhere in Africa.

Even the decision by the Ethiopian government to allow Lucy to travel and be exhibited abroad was viewed with suspicion and criticism by some who either thought it was inappropriate to move the fossils out of the country or that officials would misuse the revenue from the exhibit.

And for such a deeply religious country, how do Ethiopians resolve the potential for conflict between Lucy's place in evolutionary science and some of the more traditional Judeo-Christian (and Muslim) teachings of human origins?

"In Ethiopia, it's not a big issue because we don't put science and religion against each other," Teshome said.

The 1974 discovery of 3 1/2-foot-tall Lucy, the oldest and most complete adult fossil of an erect-walking human ancestor, set the scientific world on its ear. And she's still making us think hard about our place in the world.

Much has already been written about the 3-million-year-old hominid's scientific significance that only adults or older children would understand. But the groundbreaking new exhibit at the Pacific Science Center, "Lucy's Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia," does offer lessons for littler ones. The exhibit will appeal mostly to second grade and up, but younger ones can find interesting parts as well.

While toddlers probably will be bored by the first part of the exhibit, which showcases ancient artifacts such as religious crosses and leather and parchment Korans, enter the interactive area in Room 6 and you'll likely catch their attention. There are buttons to push to activate lights, plastic bones to create a Lucy-size skeleton, and real bones and fossils to touch.

The exhibit covers 200,000 years in Ethiopia's history. The core exhibit was organized by and first presented at The Houston Museum of Natural Science. It has been greatly expanded here with much more information on the history of Ethiopia, and scientific explanations, such as how to date fossils.

Getting such an important archaeological find out of Ethiopia for the first time and on tour took a lot of work by many people and organizations. Washington state Rep. Helen Sommers was part of the Seattle planning committee and told a preview crowd earlier this week that she was thrilled Lucy was finally here. "I think she's beautiful," Sommers said, adding that everyone should travel to Africa to get a better understanding of our history. "I recommend it strongly."

Lucy's Ethiopian name is Dinkenesh, which means "thou art wonderful." But she acquired the nickname Lucy after the paleoanthropologists who found her celebrated their success with a party complete with Beatles' music, notably "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds."

Inside the exhibit, children will be interested to see ancient coins from Aksum, the only African kingdom outside the Roman Empire to issue its own coins, and one of the few to mint coins in gold.

At the Ethiopian Spice Rack, gently squeeze bottles for a strong scent of four pices: berbere, shiro, mitmita and awaze. (Don't put your nose too close or you'll sneeze!)

Push one of six buttons to highlight the correct answer of which of Ethiopia's medicinal plants is used to treat a variety of conditions, including scorpion stings (pterolobium laceras) and flatulence (stephania abyssinica).

In the interactive room, feel the difference between bones and fossils; spin one of two wheels on the Strata Twister to understand how sediment layers are pushed upward and compressed to create fossils; look at a small, rocky area on the ground and see if you can detect the fossils partially buried, then push a button to light up the fossils to see if you're right; and spin a big, clear tube full of sediment on a screen until you see several small fossils.

Children probably will want to spend a fair amount of time assembling the plastic skeleton on a long, low table. Everything you need is there: skull, vertebrae, ribs, hands and feet, femurs, pelvis, shoulder blades, collarbones, etc. Just place the correct bone on top of the picture and you'll eventually have your own little Lucy.

Another fun spot is the Brain Drains, which uses an interesting method to demonstrate the difference in skull size between modern humans and Lucy. Flip each of the three skulls upside down and a bottle of light blue liquid drains into the skull. Compare how much liquid fits into each of the skulls. This area points out that although Lucy's brain was very small, about the size of a chimpanzee's, she was smart enough to walk upright.

A series of skulls in cases line the walkway to the final room where Lucy resides. You'll see Lucy's real bones lying in a case in the center of the room, an upright cast of her bones in another, and a reconstruction of what Lucy might have looked like when she was alive, hair and all.

LUCY TALKS

During the run of "Lucy's Legacy" at Pacific Science Center, the Burke Museum is organizing five stand-alone lectures. Here's the schedule.

Last updated September 29, 2008 12:36 p.m. PT

'Lucy' exhibit Information: Where and when to see her

Run dates Oct. 4 -- March 8

The exhibit will be closed on the following dates: Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov. 3, 27 and Dec. 25.

Hours

Mondays (as of Nov. 10): 10:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays: 10:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Thursdays: 10:15 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturdays, Sundays: 10:15 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Location

Pacific Science Center

200 Second Ave. N., Seattle

Tickets

Prices include admission to all Science Center exhibits.

General admission:

Adults: $20.75

Youths (6-12): $16.25

Kids (3-5): $9

Seniors (65+): $18.25

Add $4 to include IMAX movie "Mystery of the Nile."

Science Center members:

Adults: $8.75

Youth: $3

Kids: $3

Seniors: $8.75

Thursday night admission:

The Lucy Exhibit only will be open Thursday nights from 5 to 9 p.m. Other exhibits will close at 5 p.m.

General admission, all ages: $12

Members: Free

Add $5 to include IMAX movie.

More information

Phone: 877-733-5829

Web: pacsci.org/lucy/

E-mail: askaboutLucy@pacsci.org