The Joseph Smith bicentennial exhibit at the Museum of Church History and Art will close on Jan. 16.

Since opening Feb. 5, the exhibit has drawn unprecedented numbers of visitors. Its closing will follow the church's Dec. 23 commemoration of Joseph Smith's 200th birthday by just three weeks.

Curator Mark Staker described the exhibit as "a once-in-a-lifetime experience," and encouraged visitors not to wait until the last minute to see this collection of historic materials.

"Many of the artifacts and documents on exhibit have never been shown publicly before. Because of their fragile condition, it will likely be many years before they are exhibited again," Staker said.

Exhibit materials have been drawn from the extensive collection of Joseph Smith materials in the Church History Library and Archives. Rare items from the Harold B. Lee Library Special Collections at Brigham Young University and from the Community of Christ Special Collections Library in Independence, Mo., are on loan just for this exhibit.

The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Sunday and most holidays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The museum will be closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day and will close at 5 p.m. on Nov. 23 and at 11 p.m. on New Year's Eve.

Located at 45 N. West Temple, the museum is a half-block north of the Temple Square TRAX station. To schedule group tours, please call 801-240-4615. Admission is free.