Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology

The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology is a university museum at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, established in 1866 to house archaeological and ethnographic collections.

The museum presents permanent galleries and rotating exhibitions that cover the Americas, the Pacific, Africa, and Asia, with material ranging from prehistoric archaeological finds to recent ethnographic collections. The public displays are supplemented by object study rooms and educational programs for schools and university courses.

Founded in 1866, the institution has grown through donations and field collections to serve as both a public museum and a research center for archaeology and ethnology. Over time the museum expanded its role in academic research, conservation, and teaching at Harvard.

Situated on Harvard University’s campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the museum sits close to Harvard Square and is across the Charles River from central Boston.

• Collections: Holds more than one million archaeological and ethnographic objects, spanning North and South America, the Pacific, Africa, and Asia.
• Getting there: Located on Harvard University's campus near Harvard Square and accessible by public transit via the Harvard Square MBTA station.

What to See #

• Exhibition galleries: Permanent galleries and temporary exhibition spaces that present archaeological and ethnographic material from the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania; galleries are used for both public display and teaching.
• Research collections: Houses research collections, archives, and study spaces that support Harvard teaching and academic research; access for researchers is by appointment.