Explore Nearby Museums
 Updated: 3/20/2015 
Museum of Anthropology
Columbia, Missouri
Description

The Museum of Anthropology is the only anthropology museum in the state of Missouri and one of a few in the Midwest. The Museum's archaeological collection, the largest holding of prehistoric Missouri artifacts in the world, includes millions of items dating from 9,000 B.C. to modern times.

The Museum curates thousands of ethnographic objects from many cultures around the world, as well as a sizable collection of historic Euroamerican materials and the extensive Grayson Archery Collection. Additionally, the Museum holds the Fay Library of anthropological books and periodicals and archival materials relating to various collections.

The Museum Online

The Museum Online allows the Museum to reach visitors beyond its physical boundaries and to provide greater access to collections and related information for researchers, students, and other interested individuals. Online features include donor profiles and collection summaries, samples of items on display in the Museum, and virtual exhibits of materials from the Museum's extensive holdings that are not currently included in the Museum's exhibit hall.

Mission

Since its founding in 1939, the Museum of Anthropology has served the research and teaching needs of the University of Missouri, provided exhibitions and programs for the general public, and served as an archaeological curation facility for the state of Missouri.

History

As early as 1885 the University of Missouri began accepting gifts of ethnographic materials. In 1902 these materials were organized into the Museum of Ethnology, under the auspices of the Department of Sociology. From 1932 to 1938 the holdings were known as the Anthropology Collection; the name Museum of Anthropology was formally adopted in 1939.

Research Collections

The Museum Support Center houses the Museum of Anthropology's extensive collection and has a small exhibit area featuring material from the Grayson Archery Collection. Research on collections is conducted at the Museum Support Center. Collections of archaeological and ethnographic materials are available for use by faculty, students, and other qualified researchers.

Programs

The Museum supports the University's dedication to public education by providing exhibits that convey the richness of Missouri's prehistory and the diversity of Native American cultures throughout the United States. Collections not on exhibit are also available for faculty and students to draw from to supplement their classroom experiences and for special projects.

Guided tours of museum exhibits and other public programs are available to area schools, community organizations, and other interested groups. Additionally, the Museum provides a variety of opportunities for students to gain experience in museum methods and practices, including museum courses offered through the Department of Anthropology.

Education Program: Experience Cultures of the World

This popular children's program includes presentations on artifacts and cultures from the designated areas as well as fun activities such as craft projects, traditional folktales, music and games. New programs will be announced when available. Latest program is Experience Cultures of the World.

Services
Museum Gift Shop

A great place to find something different—and to support the Museum! Featuring unique gifts from around the world, including Mexico, Central and South America, India, and Africa, as well as Native American items. We accept credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover), cash and personal checks. The Museum Gift Shop is a member of Co-op America's Fair Trade Alliance, supporting good working conditions & wages for our ethnically-produced products

Gift Shop
Group Tours
Address
115 Business Loop 70 W.
Columbia, MO 65211
phone: 573-882-3573
e-mail: anthromuseum@missouri.edu
home page: anthromuseum.missouri.edu
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Hours of Operation

Under construction (2015) at our new location, Mizzou North!

Museum Gift Shop Hours
Monday - Friday10 AM - 4 PM
Museum Type(s)
Anthropology
Culture
Library
Science
University
Staff
DISCLAIMER
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

Saturday, March 15 - Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The Inn at Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

Hosted by: Virginia Association of Museums

2025 Conference Theme: Looking Back to the Future For the past several years, many museums have been deeply involved in planning programs and events to observe the 250th birthday of the United States of America. While this is certainly an occasion to celebrate, this anniversary also forces us as a society to reckon with ongoing inequities and challenges within the US that go back to its inception. As museums ask their audiences to look to the past to understand the present and shape a better future, perhaps now is a good moment in time for Virginia’s museum community to take pause and look back at its own history. We are excited to see you in Blacksburg in March 2025 as we take a moment in our hectic schedules to take pause and visit our diverse pasts. Let’s uncover and share our histories to build a more resilient Virginia museum community.

Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

March 29 - 31, 2025

Athens, Ohio

Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

Saturday, March 29 - Monday, March 31, 2025

TBA

Athens, Ohio

Hosted by: Ohio Museums Association

"Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential

The heart of innovation is transformation – shaking up our established way of doing things by introducing new methods, new ideas, and new approaches to both obstacles and opportunities

Museums across Ohio are not just adapting, but innovating to reach their full potential and better serve their communities. No matter their role, museum professionals are introducing forward-thinking perspectives and initiating creative solutions to launch the field into a future where museums can remain trusted and relevant community cornerstones

How can your museum stay true to mission and serve your community in new and meaningful ways? How can we as museum professionals meet the challenges of the future with reinvigorated enthusiasm

Join us in Athens, March 29-31 as we explore these topics and more at the 2025 Ohio Museums Association’s Annual Conference: Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential.

For more information, please email oma@ohiohistory.org.

North Carolina Museums Council 2025 Annual Conference

March 30 - 31, 2025

Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina Museums Council 2025 Annual Conference

Sunday, March 30 - Monday, March 31, 2025

TBA

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hosted by: North Carolina Museums Council

Museums Unwalled: Expanding Horizon

This theme highlights the importance of museums as dynamic entities that engage with communities, foster education, drive cultural change and often go beyond the building itself. By focusing on areas such as community engagement, digital and virtual presence, interdisciplinary collaborations, sustainability, accessibility, and cultural diversity, we aim to provide a comprehensive and enriching experience for all attendees

The primary objective is to provide a platform for museum professionals and others working in the industry to share ideas, best practices, resources and innovative approaches that demonstrate how museums can reach audiences in and beyond our physical spaces. We aim to inspire attendees to think broadly about the potential of their institutions and to foster a spirit of innovation and community engagement.

By facilitating discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, the conference will empower current and future museum professionals and to expand their impact, embrace new challenges, and create meaningful connections with their audiences and communities.

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

March 31 - April 3, 2025

Washington, Arkansas

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

Monday, March 31 - Thursday, April 3, 2025

Historic Washington State Park

Washington, Arkansas

Hosted by: Arkansas Museums Association

"From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums

This year, the AMA conference theme is "From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums" As museum professionals we learn and use a wide variety of tools and skills every day

The Arkansas Museums Association is planning its 2025 Annual Conference, which will be hosted by Historic Washington State Park on March 31-April 3, 2025.

The goal of the conference is to support and foster the museum community through a mix of speakers as well as workshops, practical and informative presentations, in-depth discussions, and examples of projects and initiatives that are relevant to museums in Arkansas. Arkansas Museum Association members take ownership in the conference experience as presenters, speakers, panelists, facilitators, and workshop leaders.

For more information, please email arkansasmuseums@gmail.com.

New York Museum Association 2025 Conference in Ithaca, NY

April 5 - 8, 2025

Ithaca, New York

New York Museum Association 2025 Conference in Ithaca, NY

Saturday, April 5 - Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Ithaca Downtown Conference Center

Ithaca, New York

Hosted by: Museum Association of New York

Cultivating Community: Looking In, Reaching Ou

Who are the members of our communities? How can we evaluate our internal structures to help us better understand our organization, define our audiences, and serve our communities? How do we bring all communities together to support our field? How can we support and develop our internal community of staff, volunteers, and board members? How can we advocate for funding that meets operational capacity needs and includes equitable staff support? What changes do we need to make to prioritize the health and well-being of our museum workforce that will support the longevity and sustainability of our institutions and strengthen our ability to build meaningful community relationships

MANY presents conference sessions, workshops, panel discussions, facilitated discussions, and peer-to-peer learning experiences focusing on our 2025 conference theme, Cultivating Community: Looking In, Reaching Out. We will be gathering in Ithaca, in the Southern Tier Region of our state, located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó:nǫɁ (the Cayuga Nation)

MANY’s annual conference helps museum professionals build a network to share perspectives, tools, and skills that develop excellence across the field. Our goal is to nurture a community of practice, advance institutional change, and create an inclusive and expansive New York team of collaborators who learn together.

view all conferences
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