What do the postal system, international law, the cannon, national parks; even skis, baklava and "hooray!" have in common? The answer: Genghis Khan, the great civilizer whose empire brought each of these innovations to the West.

To many, Genghis Khan is remembered as a terrifying leader, known for decimating cultures in his quest for world domination. Genghis, however, was far more than a conqueror. A new exhibition at The Tech Museum in San Jose - now on display for the first time on the West Coast -aims to shed light on the other side of this historical icon.

Genghis Khan: The Exhibition, co-sponsored by The Tech Museum and Team San Jose, showcases the largest number of artifacts from his reign ever displayed together at once, alongside hands-on excavations, wrap-around videos and immersive scenes of Mongolian life to tell the story of Genghis' rule.

The 15,000 square foot exhibition takes visitors on a journey through stunning re-creations of the Khan Empire, from the lush grasslands to his extensive capital. Over 200 spectacular artifacts, including imperial gold, silk robes and sophisticated weaponry tell the story of the world's most visionary ruler and his descendants. Also on display is a mummified Mongolian princess from the 13th century accompanied by her coffin, robes and many tomb treasures, all being seen for the first time in over 800 years.

Genghis Khan: The Exhibition also features live cultural performances by Mongolian singers, contortionists and musicians to truly immerse visitors in the culture of Genghis' time. A trip through a life-size ger, the traditional nomadic dwelling of Genghis' time (which is still used today by one-third of modern Mongolia) shows the living conditions of the people, while the vast display of Mongolian weaponry including large siege crossbows and a massive traction trebuchet, highlight the technologically-advanced armaments of Khan's reign.

"Genghis Khan's brutality is well known, but less visible is the man whose natural leadership formed the first united Mongol nation, no small feat," says Peter Friess, president of The Tech Museum. "This one-of-a-kind exhibit displays the dark images of Genghis Khan the warlord, but also the man who brought us passports, the Pony Express, printed money, and even hamburgers."

The exhibition is the product of organizer Don Lessem, who discovered the amazing truth about Genghis Khan on his first trip to Mongolia in the late 1980s. Lessem was there to dig for dinosaurs in the Gobi Desert, but soon learned about a completely different Genghis than he had previously been exposed to in the West. "In Mongolia I was amazed to learn Genghis was no barbarian," said Lessem. "He was one of the world's greatest innovators. In many ways he was 'Genghis the Good' for most of the known-world." The Tech Museum and exhibition creators hope this one-of-a-kind exhibition will help visitors discover the innovation and culture of one of the world's most misunderstood conquerors.

Genghis Khan: The Exhibition is now open at The Tech Museum in San Jose for a limited engagement. Exhibition hours are Monday - Wednesday 10 AM - 5 PM and Thursday - Sunday 10 AM - 8 PM. Tickets are on sale now at www.thetech.org. Ticket prices are usd15 for children ages (3-17) and usd25 for adults. Special ticket prices are also available for seniors and college students. An admission includes access to all the regular museum galleries.

Genghis Khan is the result of a ten year organizing effort by Don "Dino" Lessem, with curatorial consultation by leading Genghis Khan experts and scholars, Dr. William Fitzhugh of the Smithsonian Institution and Dr. Morris Rossabi of Columbia University.