Hezzie Goes to War
Featured Exhibit
This exhibit exists both virtually and physically. In June 2025, Hezzie Goes to War, a new virtual exhibit created using the ARCGIS program StoryMaps, debuted online. To compliment the online exhibit, a physical exhibit of some of the items mentioned was installed at the MoA. The physical exhibit will be up through September 2025.
To view the online exhibit scroll down to our interactive exhibits section.
Revolving Exhibits
Revolving exhibits are on display at the Museum of Anthropology for a limited time.
Hezzie Goes to War
June 2025 - September 2025
As compliment to our new online exhibit by the same name, this World War I exhibit gives visitors the opportunity to view objects in person from the MoA's Pattrick Collection. Included are memorabilia Hezzie returned with and gear he used on active duty in Europe.
Reflections from Above
Coming July 2025
An examination of how technology has changed from early 1900s aerial photos used in WWI to today’s Lidar images of ground surfaces.
Southwest Prints
Coming July 2025
These prints are an incoming acquisition of the MoA and will exhibit designs by artists of the San Ildefonso Pueblo and Zia Pueblo.
Continuous Exhibits
Our exhibits include anthropological and archaeological materials, and focus on early humans, archaeology in present day Missouri, and indigenous North American peoples. The MoA also has collections of material from South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania which appear in our archery from around the world exhibit.
The goal of our exhibits is to broaden the understanding of human behavior, both in the past and the present.
Please note: The Museum of Anthropology works directly with Tribal Nations to preserve the history of indigenous peoples whose relationship to this land continues to this day. Although we undertake the care of the material, we do not own the vast knowledge, history, or story they contain.
Early Humans
Biological anthropology studies everything from our human origins to how skeletal structures changed based on influencing factors such as environment, disease, occupation. This exhibit only goes back in Hominin history 5 million years and shows both cranial and post-cranial differences between early hominins and Homo Sapiens/humans. We also highlight the earliest known tools and the development of the early human toolkit through the Upper Paleolithic advent of cultural materials in the archaeological record.
Archaeology
View archaeological material from what is now Missouri dating to the first arrival of humans in central North America ~13,000 years ago through their contact with individuals from other parts of the world ~550 years ago. This exhibit looks at the four different time periods attributed to objects from this region (Paleoindian, Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippian), and highlights advancements in the technology and materials used as well as the lifestyle of the peoples and their culture. This exhibit has been made in consultation with regional tribes to ensure accuracy of text and understanding of the objects displayed.
Archery
The MoA's archery collection is one of the largest in the world consisting of several thousand pieces of archery and archery-related objects, as well as cultural items depicting archery in one form or another, from six continents. The portion on exhibit highlights pieces from China, Mongolia, Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia and Oceania, Africa, the Middle East, South America, and the North American Arctic. The exhibit focuses on archery as a common tool used globally for thousands of years, and communicates how different peoples' resources, traditions, and beliefs are combined to create unique material objects.
North American Peoples
The largest exhibit area is dedicated to Native American communities in North America. Objects are arranged by geographic region and include both historic objects as well as contemporary/modern ones. This is space to examine and reflect on the rich traditions of Native Americans through their art and craft, as well as celebratory and everyday objects. Regions included are the Southwest, Eastern Woodlands, Plains, Northwest Coast and Arctic. There is also a special exhibit space devoted specifically to the Osage Nation whose traditional homelands (amoung others) the museum sits upon.
Online Exhibits
Past Exhibits
Covid Heart, print by Norman Akers.
Contemporary Osage Artists
On exhibit: Spring 2024 to Summer 2025
Works by two Osage artists, Norman Akers (Professor of Art, University of Kansas) and Joe Don Brave, blend Osage tradition with imagery personal to their own experiences as members of the Osage Nation reminding viewers that the Native American experience is contemporary and remains rich in history. Both artists work in a variety of mediums, ranging from paint to print and everything in between.
An additional contemporary Osage mural by Yatika Starr Fields can be viewed currently in the MU Student Union.
Mask from Guatamala, 20th century.
Construction of a Persona
On exhibit: Summer 2024 - Winter 2025
In many cultures around the world masks are used to portray who we want to be in a moment. Masks have found a place in performance, ritual, and celebration. This exhibit explored the idea that masks serve as a form of self-portaiture. Masks included ranged from around the globe.