Maxwell Museum of Anthropology facts for kids
Front Entrance
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| Established | 1932 (current location since 1961) |
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| Location | University of New Mexico campus, Albuquerque, New Mexico United States |
The Maxwell Museum of Anthropology is a cool museum located on the University of New Mexico campus. You can find it in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This museum teaches you all about anthropology, which is the study of humans and their cultures.
It first opened its doors in 1932. Back then, it was called the Museum of Anthropology of the University of New Mexico. It was the very first public museum in Albuquerque! Later, in 1972, it was renamed the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology. This was to honor Dorothy and Gilbert Maxwell, who were very generous supporters.
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Museum History
The museum was started in 1932 by Edgar Lee Hewett. He was a very active anthropologist. He had also created the university's anthropology department just four years earlier. The museum's main purpose was to keep and show a growing collection of artifacts. These items were found during archaeological digs. They came from research projects linked to the UNM Anthropology Department and other museums.
Early Days and Growth
Frank C. Hibben became the museum's first director. He helped the museum get many more items. He collected archaeological materials from all over the world. He also traded with other museums to expand the collections.
The museum's exhibits were first in Rodey Hall at UNM. Then, they moved to Scholes Hall in 1935. Finally, in 1961, the museum moved to its current location.
Renaming the Museum
In 1972, the museum got a big upgrade. A major construction project expanded its buildings. This project was paid for by Dorothy and Gilbert Maxwell. Because of their generous help, the museum was renamed in their honor. Since then, the Maxwell Museum has become a very important museum in the region. It is also known nationally as a research center.
What You Can See: Exhibits
The museum has five different areas for exhibits. These areas show both permanent displays and changing ones. They all explore the amazing story of human culture.
Permanent Exhibits
- Ancestors: This exhibit takes you on a journey through four million years of human evolution. You can see life-size models of our early human ancestors. It's like stepping back in time!
- People of the Southwest: This exhibit shows over eleven thousand years of cultural history in the American Southwest. You'll see cool artifacts from ancient groups like the Mimbres and Ancestral Puebloans. There are also displays about UNM's field work in New Mexico. You can even see a recreated dig site from Chaco Canyon.
Changing Exhibits
The museum also has special galleries for changing exhibits. These include the North Gallery, the Bawden Gallery, and the Ortiz Center Gathering Space. These areas feature items from the museum's huge collection. They also host traveling exhibits from other places.
The Totem Pole
The museum's courtyard used to have a huge totem pole. It was about 46-foot (14 m) tall! This totem pole came all the way from British Columbia in 1941. It has been restored and is now in the lobby of the Anthropology Department's Hibben Center building, right next to the museum.
Gallery
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Dorothy and Gilbert Maxwell around 1970
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The Museum's totem pole
