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Museum of Us

January 01, 1970

The Museum of Us (formerly known as the San Diego Museum of Man) [1] is a museum of anthropology located in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, and is housed in the historic landmark buildings of the California Quadrangle.

Museum of Us
Location within San Diego
Established1915
LocationCalifornia Quadrangle
1350 El Prado, Balboa Park
San Diego, California, United States
Coordinates32°43′54″N 117°09′10″W / 32.7317567°N 117.1528655°W / 32.7317567; -117.1528655
Typeanthropological museum
Visitors220,000 annually
DirectorMicah D. Parzen, CEO
Websitemuseumofus.org

History edit

The museum traces its starting point to the Panama-California Exposition, which opened in 1915 on the occasion of the inauguration of the Panama Canal. The central exhibit of the exposition, "The Story of Man through the Ages," was assembled under archaeologist Dr. Edgar Lee Hewett of the School of American Archaeology (later renamed the School of American Research and since 2007 the School for Advanced Research).[2] Hewett organized expeditions to gather pre-Columbian pottery from the American Southwest and to Guatemala for objects and reproductions of Mayan civilization monuments. Materials were gathered from expeditions sent by anthropologist Aleš Hrdlička of the Smithsonian Institution, who gathered casts and specimens from Africa, Siberia, Alaska, and Southeast Asia. Osteological remains and trepanated crania from Peruvian sites were also obtained.[3]

A group of citizens led by George Marston formed the San Diego Museum Association to retain the collection and convert it into a permanent museum, with Dr. Hewett as the first director. Notable additions to the museum's collection after the exposition included the Jessop Weapons Collection and a rare collection of artifacts from the ancient Egyptian city of Amarna, donated by Ellen Browning Scripps and the Egypt Exploration Society.

Between 1935 and 1936, the museum's name briefly changed to the Palace of Science to correspond with the California-Pacific International Exposition. During this exposition, the museum housed special exhibitions from a variety of sources, such as the Monte Alban exhibit, which featured many artifacts on loan from the Mexican government.

In 1942, the museum underwent a name change to "Museum of Man," reflecting its commitment to anthropological pursuits. The addition of "San Diego" occurred in 1978.[2] During World War II, the museum underwent conversion into a hospital, necessitating the temporary storage of its exhibits and collections. Post-war, the institution shifted its focus to the people of the Western Americas, eventually leading to significant growth in its collections from the 1980s through the early 1990s. Presently, the museum's holdings comprise nearly two million objects.

The museum is housed in four original buildings from the 1915 Exposition. These include the California Quadrangle, which was designed for the Exposition by American architect Bertram G. Goodhue, and the California Tower, one of the key landmarks in San Diego. The Quadrangle and Tower are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[4] The exterior sculpture on the building was created by the Piccirilli Brothers.

The main museum is housed in the California Building with its landmark tower. The tower, which had been closed to the public for nearly 80 years, reopened in time for the 2015 centennial of the Panama-California Exposition.[5] The tower contains a carillon and quarterly-hour chimes which can be heard all over Balboa Park.

The museum also occupies three other original 1915 buildings. Administrative offices and an auditorium are housed in the Gill Administration Building, west of the museum. Originally known as the Balboa Park Administration Building, it was built in 1911 and designed by architect Irving Gill. It was the first building erected in Balboa Park.[6] On the opposite (south) side of the California Quadrangle, housed in what was originally the Fine Arts Building, is Evernham Hall, a banquet room that is also used for temporary exhibits. Immediately adjacent is Saint Francis Chapel, a non-denominational Spanish-style chapel available for private events.[7]

On August 2, 2020, after a several-year process and during a wave of name changes made by institutions all over the world after the murder of George Floyd, the museum officially changed its name to the Museum of Us to be in the spirit of inclusiveness and decolonization.[8][9][10]

Collections edit

The museum's cultural resources and permanent exhibits focus on the pre-Columbian history of the western Americas, with materials drawn from Native American cultures of the Southern California region, and Mesoamerican civilizations, such as the Maya. The museum also holds a collection of Ancient Egyptian antiquities, including burial masks, figurines, and seven painted wooden coffins; one piece is a Ptolemaic child's coffin—only six others are known to exist worldwide. The total holdings include more than 100,000 documented ethnographic items, 300,000 archaeological items, and 25,000 photographic images.

In popular culture edit

The California Building and its tower were used by Orson Welles as the principal features of the fictitious Xanadu estate in the classic film Citizen Kane.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ John, Wilkens (2020-08-02). "As it moves forward with decolonizing, Museum of Man gets a new name". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  2. ^ a b "San Diego Museum of Man History - Balboa Park History".
  3. ^ "About the Museum — History" 2006-11-12 at the Wayback Machine, San Diego Museum of Man (n.d.).
  4. ^ "California Quadrangle". National Park Service. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  5. ^ Chute, James; Rocha, Michael James (January 1, 2015). "Iconic California Tower Reopens in Balboa Park Today". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  6. ^ "The California Building". Museum of Man website. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  7. ^ "Private events at the Museum of Man". Museum of Man website. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  8. ^ "San Diego Museum of Man Announces Inclusive Name Change". NBC 7 San Diego. 2 August 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  9. ^ Czachor, Emily (August 2, 2020). "San Diego Museum Changes Its Name to Promote Inclusivity and Decolonization". Newsweek.
  10. ^ Genovese, Daniella (2020-08-03). "San Diego Museum of Man announces name change". FOXBusiness. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  11. ^ "San Diego Museum of Man San Diego Review". www.fodors.com.

Further reading edit

  • San Diego Museum of Man (n.d.). . Museum website. San Diego Museum of Man. Archived from the original on 2008-03-28. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  • Redman, Samuel J. Bone Rooms: From Scientific Racism to Human Prehistory in Museums. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. 2016.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to San Diego Museum of Man.
  • Official website

32°43′54″N 117°09′10″W / 32.7317567°N 117.1528655°W / 32.7317567; -117.1528655

January 01, 1970
museum, major, contributor, this, article, appears, have, close, connection, with, subject, require, cleanup, comply, with, wikipedia, content, policies, particularly, neutral, point, view, please, discuss, further, talk, page, march, 2016, learn, when, remove. A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia s content policies particularly neutral point of view Please discuss further on the talk page March 2016 Learn how and when to remove this message The Museum of Us formerly known as the San Diego Museum of Man 1 is a museum of anthropology located in Balboa Park San Diego California and is housed in the historic landmark buildings of the California Quadrangle Museum of UsLocation within San DiegoEstablished1915LocationCalifornia Quadrangle1350 El Prado Balboa ParkSan Diego California United StatesCoordinates32 43 54 N 117 09 10 W 32 7317567 N 117 1528655 W 32 7317567 117 1528655Typeanthropological museumVisitors220 000 annuallyDirectorMicah D Parzen CEOWebsitemuseumofus org Contents 1 History 2 Collections 3 In popular culture 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory editThe museum traces its starting point to the Panama California Exposition which opened in 1915 on the occasion of the inauguration of the Panama Canal The central exhibit of the exposition The Story of Man through the Ages was assembled under archaeologist Dr Edgar Lee Hewett of the School of American Archaeology later renamed the School of American Research and since 2007 the School for Advanced Research 2 Hewett organized expeditions to gather pre Columbian pottery from the American Southwest and to Guatemala for objects and reproductions of Mayan civilization monuments Materials were gathered from expeditions sent by anthropologist Ales Hrdlicka of the Smithsonian Institution who gathered casts and specimens from Africa Siberia Alaska and Southeast Asia Osteological remains and trepanated crania from Peruvian sites were also obtained 3 A group of citizens led by George Marston formed the San Diego Museum Association to retain the collection and convert it into a permanent museum with Dr Hewett as the first director Notable additions to the museum s collection after the exposition included the Jessop Weapons Collection and a rare collection of artifacts from the ancient Egyptian city of Amarna donated by Ellen Browning Scripps and the Egypt Exploration Society Between 1935 and 1936 the museum s name briefly changed to the Palace of Science to correspond with the California Pacific International Exposition During this exposition the museum housed special exhibitions from a variety of sources such as the Monte Alban exhibit which featured many artifacts on loan from the Mexican government In 1942 the museum underwent a name change to Museum of Man reflecting its commitment to anthropological pursuits The addition of San Diego occurred in 1978 2 During World War II the museum underwent conversion into a hospital necessitating the temporary storage of its exhibits and collections Post war the institution shifted its focus to the people of the Western Americas eventually leading to significant growth in its collections from the 1980s through the early 1990s Presently the museum s holdings comprise nearly two million objects The museum is housed in four original buildings from the 1915 Exposition These include the California Quadrangle which was designed for the Exposition by American architect Bertram G Goodhue and the California Tower one of the key landmarks in San Diego The Quadrangle and Tower are listed on the National Register of Historic Places 4 The exterior sculpture on the building was created by the Piccirilli Brothers The main museum is housed in the California Building with its landmark tower The tower which had been closed to the public for nearly 80 years reopened in time for the 2015 centennial of the Panama California Exposition 5 The tower contains a carillon and quarterly hour chimes which can be heard all over Balboa Park The museum also occupies three other original 1915 buildings Administrative offices and an auditorium are housed in the Gill Administration Building west of the museum Originally known as the Balboa Park Administration Building it was built in 1911 and designed by architect Irving Gill It was the first building erected in Balboa Park 6 On the opposite south side of the California Quadrangle housed in what was originally the Fine Arts Building is Evernham Hall a banquet room that is also used for temporary exhibits Immediately adjacent is Saint Francis Chapel a non denominational Spanish style chapel available for private events 7 On August 2 2020 after a several year process and during a wave of name changes made by institutions all over the world after the murder of George Floyd the museum officially changed its name to the Museum of Us to be in the spirit of inclusiveness and decolonization 8 9 10 Collections editThe museum s cultural resources and permanent exhibits focus on the pre Columbian history of the western Americas with materials drawn from Native American cultures of the Southern California region and Mesoamerican civilizations such as the Maya The museum also holds a collection of Ancient Egyptian antiquities including burial masks figurines and seven painted wooden coffins one piece is a Ptolemaic child s coffin only six others are known to exist worldwide The total holdings include more than 100 000 documented ethnographic items 300 000 archaeological items and 25 000 photographic images In popular culture editThe California Building and its tower were used by Orson Welles as the principal features of the fictitious Xanadu estate in the classic film Citizen Kane 11 References edit John Wilkens 2020 08 02 As it moves forward with decolonizing Museum of Man gets a new name San Diego Union Tribune Retrieved 2022 02 02 a b San Diego Museum of Man History Balboa Park History About the Museum History Archived 2006 11 12 at the Wayback Machine San Diego Museum of Man n d California Quadrangle National Park Service Retrieved 6 November 2012 Chute James Rocha Michael James January 1 2015 Iconic California Tower Reopens in Balboa Park Today San Diego Union Tribune Retrieved 14 June 2016 The California Building Museum of Man website Retrieved 3 November 2012 Private events at the Museum of Man Museum of Man website Retrieved 3 November 2012 San Diego Museum of Man Announces Inclusive Name Change NBC 7 San Diego 2 August 2020 Retrieved 2020 08 02 Czachor Emily August 2 2020 San Diego Museum Changes Its Name to Promote Inclusivity and Decolonization Newsweek Genovese Daniella 2020 08 03 San Diego Museum of Man announces name change FOXBusiness Retrieved 2020 08 03 San Diego Museum of Man San Diego Review www fodors com Further reading editSan Diego Museum of Man n d About the Museum Museum website San Diego Museum of Man Archived from the original on 2008 03 28 Retrieved 2008 04 21 Redman Samuel J Bone Rooms From Scientific Racism to Human Prehistory in Museums Cambridge Harvard University Press 2016 External links edit nbsp California portal nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to San Diego Museum of Man Official website 32 43 54 N 117 09 10 W 32 7317567 N 117 1528655 W 32 7317567 117 1528655 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Museum of Us amp oldid 1191083509, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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