Michael C. Carlos Museum facts for kids
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| Former name | Emory University Museum of Art and Archaeology |
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| Established | 1876 |
| Location | 571 South Kilgo Circle Atlanta United States |
| Type | Art museum |
| Visitors | 120,000 annually |
The Michael C. Carlos Museum is an exciting art museum in Atlanta. It's located on the main campus of Emory University. This museum is special because it holds the largest collection of ancient art in the southeastern United States.
You can explore amazing objects from ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. There are also pieces from the Near East, Africa, and the ancient Americas. The museum building was designed by a famous architect named Michael Graves. It's open for everyone to visit and enjoy!
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Discovering the Museum's History
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The Michael C. Carlos Museum is one of the oldest museums in Georgia. Its collections started way back in 1876. Back then, it was known as the Emory College Museum. It was on Emory University's first campus in Oxford, Georgia.
Later, the university moved to Atlanta. In 1919, a group of professors officially started the Emory University Museum. The art pieces were shown in different buildings around the campus.
Over the years, a kind businessman from Atlanta, Michael C. Carlos, gave a lot of money. He donated over $20 million to help build a permanent home for the museum. This new building opened in 1985. The museum was then called the Emory University Museum of Art and Archaeology. It became officially recognized as a museum of ancient art and fine arts.
In 1993, the museum got even bigger! This expansion made it one of Atlanta's best art places. When the new building opened, the museum was renamed the Michael C. Carlos Museum. This was to honor Michael C. Carlos, who was its most generous supporter.
In 2022, Henry Kim became the new director of the museum. He started his role in August of that year.
Exploring Collections and Activities
The museum has more than 25,000 amazing artworks! About 120,000 people visit the museum every year. Besides its permanent displays, the museum also has special temporary exhibitions.
The Carlos Museum offers many fun and educational programs. These include talks, workshops, performances, and festivals. It also has a special lab for teaching and a center to help preserve old art. The museum even publishes books about its collections.
The museum helps bring art and history to kids in Georgia through its "Art Odyssey" program. It also has "Odyssey Online," a website for school-age children. This website lets kids explore the different cultures shown in the museum's art.
Ancient Egyptian Treasures
The museum's collection of ancient Egyptian art grew a lot in 1999. It got 145 pieces from Canada's Niagara Falls Museum. The most exciting parts are the beautifully decorated ancient coffins and mummies. There are mummies of both humans and animals! These are the main attractions in the ancient Egyptian art section.
Greek and Roman Masterpieces
Also in 1999, Michael C. Carlos gave another $10 million. This money was specifically for buying ancient Greek and Roman art. Because of this gift, the museum now has some incredible pieces.
One famous piece is a portrait of the Roman emperor Tiberius. It's considered one of the best existing portraits of him. Another amazing artwork is a statue of Terpsichore, the Greek muse of dance. It's one of the best examples of Hellenistic sculpture in the country. In total, there are 450 artworks displayed in the Greek and Roman art galleries.
The Mystery of Ramesses I
In 1999, the Carlos Museum bought an unidentified male mummy. Some people thought it might be a pharaoh from ancient Egypt's New Kingdom. Museum experts worked with medical experts from Emory University. Through their research, they were able to identify the mummy as pharaoh Ramesses I!
In 2003, the museum returned the mummy to Egypt. This was a friendly gesture to help with cultural cooperation between countries. Now, his remains are on display in a special case at the Luxor Museum in Egypt.
The Headless Venus Statue
On June 6, 2006, the museum bought a statue of Venus that was missing its head. They paid $968,000 for it at an auction. A private collector in Houston, Texas, owned the head. They agreed to sell the head to whoever bought the body. The head was last seen attached to the body in 1836. The museum bought the head for an extra $50,000.
