The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology is a small museum in size but it offers visitors over 100,000 artifacts to view and enjoy. I recently paid a visit here and it is one that I will be returning to again. Let me tell you what I found there…
How It Started
The museum is named after University of Michigan’s Latin professor, Francis W Kelsey. He taught from 1889-1927 and would collect items and various antiquities to aid in teaching his students. He recognized the importance that these items held and was instrumental in organizing the university’s first archaeological excavations in the Middle East and Mediterranean.
Kelsey passed away in 1927 and the museum was established shortly afterward in 1928. It expanded in 2009 with the construction of the William Upjohn Exhibit wing, with public access to the museum located on Maynard Street.
On The Inside
This is a small museum. It will take you about an hour and a half to two hours to go through normally. The second floor is currently closed for the remodeling of the Roman Gallery but it is scheduled to re-open anytime so I recommend keeping an eye on their website for updates!
Don’t worry, there’s still plenty to check out on the first floor!
The museum is set up with the majority of objects behind glass. This was competely expected considering what we were there to look at.
Although most items are behind glass this does not mean that it’s strictly a walk through and look adventure. Most of the glass cabinets have drawers that you can pull out and see more items related to the theme in the display. A few of the drawers were also interactive which is great, especially for keeping kids occupied and not bored.
Honestly, I didn’t even realize the drawers were there until I saw my daughter looking through one! I was too busy photographing everything to share here – lesson learned!
What Did I Find?
Probably the one thing everyone always wants to see at a museum is a mummy. There isn’t an actual mummy here but there is a very cool mummiform coffin on display.
The coffin belonged to Djehutymose and is from the Saite Period (685-525 BC). The museum does a very good job of having information near the displays that explains what you are viewing. In the photo below they break down what the carvings on the coffin mean and what spells were said to be on the coffin…which is actually pretty interesting.
The museum has artifacts from Egyptian, Greek and Roman times throughout. I was fondest of the Greek and Roman.
Types of Exhibits
As I said, the second floor with the majority of the Roman artifacts, was closed but there were still many displays on the first floor.
Some of them are:
- Roman Travertine or Stone Busts and Statues
- Pottery Jugs and Urns
- Glassware
- Faience – a type of glazed stoneware
- Showing ancient Trade Routes
Plan Your Trip To The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
Here’s what you will need to plan your own visit
- Located at 434 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 on the University of Michigan campus
- Telephone: (734) 764-9304
- Hours: OPEN Tuesday – Friday 9am – 4pm; Saturday & Sunday 1 – 4pm; Closed Monday
- Parking: Metered parking is available on the street or the Maynard Street Parking Garage is located on the block north of the museum. This is where I parked and it cost me $3 or $4, however, I was parked for approximately 3 hours while I had lunch and walked around the Nickels Arcade also
- Cost: FREE but they appreciate donations!
- Website: https://lsa.umich.edu/kelsey
Ideas To Make It Fun & Engaging For Children
Here are a few ideas I have come up with to make this more engaging for children (and some adults)
- Make a “game” out of the visit! Draw up a “BINGO” chart and label each square with an item they must find. When they discover it, you initial the square. If they get a BINGO, they get ice cream at one of the local restaurants or a BonBon at the awesome store in Nickels Arcade
- Devise a Scavenger Hunt
- If your child is old enough to have a cell phone, make a list of displays they are to take a photo of. Save the pictures and have a FREE (you just pay for shipping) book or Photo Tile to hang in their bedrooms of their adventure made at Photobooks/Photo Tiles and give it to them for Christmas or other holiday or birthday…or just because
- I have always asked my daughter – and even my husband – what they liked best/least about where we went and why. Keep a journal of your adventures with your children, adding a photo and note about their reactions! Not only is it something to look back on later years but it will help to determine future excursions
Where’s The Map?
Last Views
Before You Go…
I’d like to finish by saying how much I appreciate you! I sincerely hope that you enjoyed this blog post and will visit again.
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