University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Museum

Address: 3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States

Website: https://www.penn.museum

Hours: Tue-Sun 10:00am-5:00pm, closed Mondays (hours may vary for holidays)

Admission: Adults $20; Seniors/Students $16; children under 6 free (subject to change)

The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is a university-affiliated museum in Philadelphia with extensive archaeological and ethnographic collections. It holds one of the largest academic collections in the United States, covering ancient Egypt, the Near East, the Americas and other world regions.

Exhibition galleries present material culture, funerary assemblages, and archaeological finds alongside rotating special exhibitions. The museum also supports research, teaching and fieldwork projects and houses conservation and research facilities associated with the university’s academic programs.

Founded in the late 19th century, the museum developed from university collections and archaeological expeditions and has long served both public visitors and academic researchers. Its displays are organised by region and culture and include major objects acquired through excavations and donations.

The museum is located on the University of Pennsylvania campus in West Philadelphia, close to the intersection of 33rd Street and South Street, and is accessible by local public transport and campus routes.

• Collection size: Houses a collection of over one million archaeological and anthropological objects, one of the largest university museum collections in the United States.
• Campus location: Located on the University of Pennsylvania campus near 33rd Street and South Street, making it accessible from central Philadelphia and university facilities.

What to See#

• Permanent galleries: Large permanent galleries dedicated to ancient Egypt, the Near East, the Mediterranean and the Americas display major archaeological collections from excavations and donations.
• Central court and rotunda: A prominent central court and rotunda provides public circulation and displays key objects and exhibits used for rotating special exhibitions.

From central Philadelphia, take SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line to 34th Street Station and walk south along 34th to the museum at South Street (about 8-10 minutes). Driving from downtown follows I-76 across the Schuylkill; parking is available in nearby university lots but pay attention to event-day restrictions.

• Enter through the University of Pennsylvania's south campus entrance and approach via South Street - the museum's main entrance is on 34th Street near the Penn Bookstore; this avoids the campus' trickier vehicle flow.
• Allow at least 90 minutes: the Egyptian collection (including the 3,000-year-old mummy cases) and the reinstalled American and Native American galleries repay slow wandering.
• Check the museum's event calendar for object-handling sessions or curator talks; these are short, intimate, and often overlooked by day visitors.