When was the last time you came face to face with a 12-ton sphinx? I bet I’ve got you beat on this one: I did yesterday. The giant sphinx of Pharaoh Ramsses II, dating from around 1200 BC, is one of the most-visited residents of 3260 South Street, also known as the Penn Museum.

The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is one of the greatest history museums in the world. Unfortunately, far too few people seem to know this! The museum is a prized jewel of the university, having sent out over 400 expeditions in its 120 year history and welcoming scholars from around the globe to do research, but it’s also a lot of fun for the average visitor. Foreign dignitaries visiting Philly always make the museum a stop on their tours, and with it right here in our backyard, you’re missing out if you haven’t been yet.

The museum is a treasure trove of history, with vast permanent collections as well as temporary exhibitions. Perennial favorites include the Egyptian galleries (where the third largest sphinx in the world hangs out with giant columns from ancient temples, breathtaking artifacts and – everyone’s favorite – mummies), the China Rotunda, featuring art and artifacts from the ancient Far East, the Etruscan, Greek, and Roman exhibits, and the many displays on Native American peoples.

In addition to the old favorites, the museum currently has two particularly exciting exhibitions. “Painted Metaphors” is a re-examination of the museum’s world-renowned collection of ancient Mayan pottery. Excavated almost 100 years ago, new scholarship and technology allows the beautifully decorated artifacts to be presented in a new light, with special insight into their uses and the culture that created them. “Fulfilling a Prophecy” is another temporary exhibit – its run was just extended – examining never-before-seen artifacts and the secret history of the Lenape, a Native American Nation whose people live right here in Philadelphia and the surrounding area, but were forced underground in the 1700’s.

The stunning artifacts in the museum are wonderful to view, but this is no ordinary art museum, and understanding the historical significance, the archaeological importance, and the cultural insight that the objects provide is the true goal of the organization. In building their exhibits the museum utilizes the mind-blowing 2500 feet of documents and _ of a million images on file in its archives, which are any scholar’s delight. To read more about the museum archives, check out their blog – it’s surprisingly entertaining!

The museum is also a blast for kids, with tons of programming tailored to families. They run a special day camp over the summer, and have great ongoing events, including the “Summer Magic” family series (on Wednesday mornings), and “40 Winks with the Sphinx,” where kids get the chance to spend the night in the museum and explore the galleries by flashlight.

I only wish I’d had more than the few hours I’d allotted for my recent visit – I’ll definitely be heading back soon, and with enough time to check out the shop and grab lunch in the café. Admission is much cheaper than most comparable museums, and if you’re affiliated with Penn, it’s completely free! So go check it out today.

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
3260 South Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 898-4000
www.museum.upenn.edu

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