Museum of Anthropology | Washington State University

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Welcome!

The mission of the WSU Museum of Anthropology is to promote understanding of human cultures through research, education, and stewardship of archaeological collections and ethnohistoric materials from the northwest.

A view of College Hall, located on the Terrell Mall at Washington State University, Pullman — College Hall, located on the Terrell Mall at Washington State University, Pullman

The Museum of Anthropology at Washington State University engages in a broad mission of promoting understanding of human cultures through research, education, and stewardship of substantial archaeological and ethnographic materials from the northwest. Staff are engaged in activities related to this mission, including collection maintenance and rehabilitation of archaeological materials and ethnographic collections, teaching and outreach, and making the collections available for research and other creative activities.

The Museum is an official repository for archaeological collections and associated archival materials that meets the curation standards published in 36 CFR pt. 79 in compliance with federal and state mandates. Currently, the Museum stewards (curates materials) from more than 1,600 archaeological sites. Pacific Northwest collections are primarily from sites in the Columbia Plateau in eastern Washington State, a reflection of the WSU Department of Anthropology’s role as a center for scholarship and interdisciplinary archaeological science in the region. The majority of holdings are from sites located along the rivers of the Columbia system, in particular the Lower Snake and Lower Columbia Rivers, e.g., Marmes Rockshelter (45FR50), Lind Coulee (45GR97), and Wexpúsnime (45GA61), as well as numerous sites that await full study and reporting. The Museum also houses significant collections from outside of Washington State, including extensive collections from Utah associated with the Cedar Mesa Archaeological Project. The Museum also houses a collection of objects representative of global cultures, with a primary emphasis on materials from western North America.

Hours

The Museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact us by phone or email for more information.

Location

The Museum is located on the first floor of College Hall on the Washington State University campus in Pullman. Click here for a campus map.

The Washington State University Pullman campus is located on the homelands of the Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) Tribe and the Palus people. We acknowledge their presence here since time immemorial and recognize their continuing connection to the land, to the water, and to their ancestors.