The Museum of Anthropology (MoA) is part of a shared museum space on the lower level of Ellis Library with a primary entrance to the museum located directly inside the Hitt Street doors on the east side of the library.
There are two galleries with four distinct exhibits and special exhibits in hall gallery areas.
North America
North American Peoples explores objects from the North American geographic regions of the Plains, Eastern Woodlands, Southwest, Northwest Coast and Arctic, and contains items that are both historic and modern.
Archery
Archery shares the traditions and cultural objects associated with archery from all six continents, spanning from the 14th century to modern times.
Archaeology
Regional Archaeology covers four time periods of prehistory in what is now modern-day Missouri. The exhibit looks at the arrival of the earliest recorded humans to this part of North America ~13,000 years ago through the approximate arrival of Europeans around ~1500 CE.
Early Humans
Early Humans looks at Hominins from 5 million years ago to the emergence of Homo Sapiens (Humans) ~300,000 years ago, and the birth of culture during the Upper Paleolithic period. Objects range in age from ~2.6 million years to ~15,000 years old.
THINGS TO KNOW
Stop by the Museum Store. Items offered by the MoA are fair-trade and sustainably produced. Native American merchandise comes from supportive, small, independent companies or cooperatives.
Restrooms are located off of the hallway that leads to the library. The All Gender/Family restroom is accessible and equipped with a changing table.
Accessible entrances are located on Hitt Street and on the ground floor of Ellis Library. Elevators are to the left of the library entrance towards the Café. The museum has wheelchairs available to check out for those needing mobility assistance.
The Café on the ground floor of the library offers coffee-shop beverages and light snacks.
Please NO FOOD or DRINK in the museum.
The Museum of Anthropology works directly with Tribal Nations to preserve the history of the 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.