The Michigan State University Museum most commonly referred to as the MSU Museum is Michigan State University's oldest museum formed in 1857.[1] It is the state of Michigan's first Smithsonian Affiliate.[2][3] It was formed to support the work of the university and is also known for hosting the Great Lakes Quilt Center.
 MSU Museum Main Entrance | |
  Location within Michigan  MSU Museum (the United States) | |
| Established | 1857 |
|---|---|
| Location | Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, US |
| Coordinates | 42°43′53″N 84°28′54″W / 42.7315°N 84.4816°W |
| Accreditation | American Alliance of Museums |
| Director | Devon Akmon |
| Curator |
|
| Architect | Bowd–Munson Company |
| Website | museum |
History
editPast curators include J. Alan Holman.
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2023) |
Collections
editCultural and historical collections
editThe MSU museum cultural and historical collections include anthropology, folklife, cultural heritage, and history.[4]
This section needs expansion with: Cover collection details such as number of objects, diversity and other features to describe the collection content. You can help by adding to it. (January 2023) |
Natural science collections
editThe MSU museum natural science collections include mammalogy, ornithology, herpetology, ichthyology, and vertebrate paleontology.[5]
This section needs expansion with: Cover collection details such as number of objects, diversity and other features to describe the collection content. You can help by adding to it. (January 2023) |
Archaeology Collections
editThe MSU Museum’s archaeological collection, consisting of well over a million artifacts, emphasizes Michigan archaeology, with a geographic focus on the Lower Peninsula and the pre-contact eastern Upper Peninsula. This includes a robust assemblage from the Saginaw Basin, Traverse Corridor, and eastern Upper Peninsula of Native American artifacts, as well as historical fort site collections from Michigan’s early colonial history. Noteworthy sites from the MSU campus, such as Saint’s Rest, are also included. The archaeology collections are jointly managed and cursated by the MSU Department of Anthropology and the MSU Museum.
Exhibitions
editThe museum hosts exhibitions to highlight the collections and complementary programs and works some rotating some permanent spread over the three floors of the museum.
Exhibition spaces
edit- Habitat Hall – Various dioramas of North and Central America's environments and animals as well as dinosaurs and Jurassic dinosaur skeletons.[6]
- Heritage Hall – Highlights the Great Lakes region's economic history.[7]
- Hall of Animal Diversity – Highlights different animals and their adaptions to their habitats.[8]
- Collections Connections – allows visitors to see some of the cultural artifacts and natural history specimens and show how these are stored to study and preserve for the future.[9]
- Hall of Evolution – A timeline of fossils from the Cambrian period to the Pleistocene epoch.[10]
- Second floor landing – Exploring biodiversity of things big and small. It includes a skeletons of an African bush elephant as well as an Asian elephant and a skull of a Columbian mammoth.[11]
Recent exhibitions
edit- 1.5 °C – Explore the impact of climate on our planet.[12]
- We All Live Downwind –[13]
- Gameplay – Experience games developed at MSU's Games for Entertainment and Learning (GEL Lab).[14]
- Science on a Sphere – A projection sphere of visualizations of Earth and other locations highlighting a variety of data visualizations an exhibit supported by the Michigan State University Federal Credit Union[15]
Past exhibitions
edit- Kindred – featured Odawa arts and crafts including ceramics, basketry, and beadwork from the Waganakising Odawa aka Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.[16]
- Michigan Barns: Timber-framed, Plank and Polebarn – featured in July 1, 2003 – July 31, 2003[17]
See also
editEli and Edythe Broad Art Museum another museum at Michigan State University.
External links
editReferences
edit- ^ "About the Museum – MSU Museum". Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- ^ "MSU Museum". www.lansing.org. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ "Affiliate Directory". Smithsonian Affiliations. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ "Cultural and Historical Collections – MSU Museum". Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- ^ "Natural Science Collections – MSU Museum". Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- ^ "Habitat Hall – MSU Museum". Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ "Heritage Hall – MSU Museum". Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ "Hall of Animal Diversity – MSU Museum". Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ "Collections Connections – MSU Museum". Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ "Hall of Evolution – MSU Museum". Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ "Second Floor Landing – MSU Museum". Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ "1.5 °C – MSU Museum". Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ "We All Live Downwind – MSU Museum". Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ "Gameplay – MSU Museum". Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ "Science On a Sphere – MSU Museum". Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ Jokisch Polo, Michelle (May 18, 2022). "MSU Museum celebrates the work of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians". WKAR Public Media. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ "Michigan Barns: Timber-framed, Plank and Polebarn – MSU Museum". Retrieved January 25, 2023.
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