A visit to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology is a journey through both time and space. With collections drawn from centuries of Harvard anthropological research in both North and South America, the museum offers valuable information on the history of ancient and indigenous societies and the history of the social sciences. Follow a student guide on a short tour of a specific architect or get immersed in the wide range of exhibits and artifacts, exploring ways of life that seem both foreign and familiar.
See a historic snapshot of Native American life in one of the permanent exhibits. Lean in to see the fine details of the dioramas showing the construction of traditional forms of architecture.
Admire the impressive craftsmanship on display in the Native-produced artifacts. Encounter the complicated history of the university in the exhibit about Harvard’s 17th-century Indian College, traces of which were discovered in student-led digs in the Yard.
Note the profound changes that took place in the Americas after the arrival of Europeans in 1492. See how Aztec and Catholic traditions were combined to create the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) holiday celebrated all over Latin America.
Learn about European American customs in an exhibit about the history of food and eating in the United States or simply stand in awe of the Penobscot birch bark canoes that once navigated the rivers of Maine.
The Peabody Museum is north of Harvard Yard, in the same building as the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Walk here from Harvard Yard in about 5 minutes or from Harvard Square in 10 minutes. Travel by train from Boston Common in 20 minutes or drive in 15 minutes. Area parking is limited, but you may find metered street parking or on-campus spots by reservation.
The museum is open daily during regular business hours. Admission is ticketed. Student tours are available during the fall and spring semesters.
