Museum of Anthropology, Mizzou

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Columbia, MO
Museum of Anthropology, Mizzou

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The MoA was established in 1885. It is the only anthropology museum in the state of Missouri.

The Museum is currently in the process of moving to central MU campus and is therefore CLOSED. The MoA's collections were founded 1895 and were originally housed in Academic Hall where they were organized under the department of Ethnology. It is the only anthropology museum in the state of Missouri and primarily exhibits Missouri archaeology and Native American ethnographic objects. The MoA works in close conjunction with area tribes to appropriately honor and respectfully exhibit objects.

10/28/2026

Hello, Museum of Anthro friends and followers!
Important message about our phones: Mizzou is updating the phones for campus and switching them to a cloud based service. Our physical phones are no longer available and we are having some difficulty receiving calls through the new service. We sometimes can receive a voicemail, but our main phone does not have a voicemail message.

We promise we are not ignoring your calls and want to hear from you! We are working as quickly as possible to resolve these issues and apologize for the inconvenience!

For the quickest response, please email us at [email protected] for any questions. You can also visit our up-to-date website: anthromuseum. missouri .edu

Image is from US Archives of J Edgar Hoover on the telephone.

10/22/2026

Check out this new article talking about the MoA Grayson Collection and our director, Dr. Candy Sall's passion for archery! Thanks Show Me Mizzou for the great write-up!

Link in Comments!

10/12/2026

Happy Indigenous Peoples Day! Indigenous Peoples' Day celebrates the history and contributions of Native Americans and other Indigenous peoples.
While it's not an official federal holiday, dozens of states observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day in some way, either in place of—or in addition to—Columbus Day. Many cities and school systems also observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
There has been an ongoing effort to formally designate Indigenous Peoples’ Day a federal holiday. “Our country has long failed to recognize and acknowledge its dark history of erasure and harm brought upon the first inhabitants of the Americas,” said California Congresswoman Norma Torres in a 2023 statement.
“By designating Indigenous Peoples’ Day a federal holiday, we take a small but important step toward recognizing the injustices in our nation’s history and uplifting the vibrant traditions, history, and culture of all Indigenous communities—an integral part of the cultural fabric of the United States," the statement added.
This is a picture of "Indigenous Mural" (2020) by Yatika Starr Fields. Painted in honor of Mizzou’s indigenous population and its student group Four Directions, this mural captures the kaleidoscopic colors and movement the artist remembers as a child witnessing Native American dance. The piece also features a circle representing the four directions. The mural can be seen in the Mizzou Student Center!
Learn more about the history of Indigenous Peoples Day by visiting https://www.history.com/articles/indigenous-peoples-day-history or by searching "Indigenous Peoples Day" on history.com

10/11/2026

THIS FRIDAY! Join us for a children's workshop on Friday (October 16th) from 1 pm to 3:00 pm here at the Museum of Anthropology. We will be celebrating International Archaeology Day by exploring what archaeology is, looking at archaeology in exhibits, and drawing archaeological maps!
Register by visiting https://missouri.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ac23BBFdZbRh5ie or by clicking on the "Register" button under the "Upcoming Children's Workshop" section of the "Events" page on our website (anthromuseum.missouri.edu).
There is a limited number of spaces, so register today!
We can't wait to celebrate Archaeology Day!

Image: Oldowan chopper made of igneous stone. Collected from Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Southern Africa. MAC number 1985-0235.

10/10/2026

New exhibit! With International Archaeology Day just a week away, it is a great time to learn more about archaeological research near you! Our new exhibit, "Breaking Ground: The History of Mizzou Archaeology," explores archaeological research that has happened over the years here at Mizzou through the Museum's archives.
Stop by today to learn more about archaeology!

10/08/2026

NEXT FRIDAY! Join us for a children's workshop next Friday (October 16th) from 1 pm to 3:00 pm here at the Museum of Anthropology. We will be celebrating International Archaeology Day by exploring what archaeology is, looking at archaeology in exhibits, and drawing archaeological maps!
Register by visiting https://missouri.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ac23BBFdZbRh5ie or by clicking on the "Register" button under the "Upcoming Children's Workshop" section of the "Events" page on our website (anthromuseum.missouri.edu).
There is a limited number of spaces, so register today!
We can't wait to celebrate Archaeology Day!

Image: Grass-lined leather moccasin from Arnold Research Cave. MAC number 2022-01-001. From the Museum of Anthropology General Collection Online Database

09/30/2026

Today is Orange Shirt Day.

The day honors Indigenous children who were removed from their families and communities and placed in residential schools across the United States and Canada, many of whom never returned home. The history and ongoing impacts of Indigenous boarding and residential schools extend across North America. Native Nations and Indigenous communities have been working to document this history in both countries, and support efforts to finally bring these children home.

Image: The official logo and motto of the Orange Shirt Society - "Every Child Matters."

09/15/2026

TOMORROW! Explore the arts at Mizzou, hosted by the College of Arts and Science! Join us for a self-guided walking tour on Wednesday, September 16, 5-7 p.m., to enjoy live music, exhibits, performances, and art at various locations on campus.
Register for this event NOW by visiting https://missouri.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0e0LVrNaLRHYFp4 or by finding the event on our website (anthromuseum.missouri.edu) under the "Outreach" tab, clicking on the "Event" button, and scrolling down to the "Upcoming Events" section.
Visit the Museum of Anthropology during the Mizzou Arts After Hours to see archaeological material from Missouri on our cArtifact Cart, view our new archive exhibit on the History of Mizzou Archaeology, and take the opportunity to “Ask An Archaeologist” about the field of archaeology and Mizzou’s opportunities for archaeological study and research. Our curators and students have worked everywhere from the North American Southwest to the Middle East!
We can't wait to see you here!

Image: From the College of Arts and Science website (coas.missouri.edu) on the Arts After Hours page https://coas.missouri.edu/events/arts-after-hours

09/10/2026

This past weekend, Dr. Candace Sall, director of the Museum of Anthropology, competed in the USA Flight Archery Championship 2026 at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. She broke the World Record in 35 # primitive simple complex, shooting 237 meters! She now holds two world records!
It is safe to say that we here at the Museum of Anthropology take archery very seriously. Congratulate Dr. Sall on this amazing achievement! We are very proud of her!

09/09/2026

NEXT WEEK! Explore the arts at Mizzou, hosted by the College of Arts and Science! Join us for a self-guided walking tour on Wednesday, September 16, 5-7 p.m., to enjoy live music, exhibits, performances, and art at various locations on campus.
Register for this event NOW by visiting https://missouri.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0e0LVrNaLRHYFp4 or by finding the event on our website (anthromuseum.missouri.edu) under the "Outreach" tab, clicking on the "Event" button, and scrolling down to the "Upcoming Events" section.
Visit the Museum of Anthropology during the Mizzou Arts After Hours to see archaeological material from Missouri on our cArtifact Cart, view our new archive exhibit on the History of Mizzou Archaeology, and take the opportunity to “Ask An Archaeologist” about the field of archaeology and Mizzou’s opportunities for archaeological study and research. Our curators and students have worked everywhere from the North American Southwest to the Middle East!
We can't wait to see you here!

Image: From the College of Arts and Science website (coas.missouri.edu) on the Arts After Hours page https://coas.missouri.edu/events/arts-after-hours

Address

1020 Lowry Street
Columbia, MO
65211

Telephone

+15738823573

Website

http://anthromuseum.missouri.edu/

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