UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History

The UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History is a university museum on the UCLA campus that houses artworks and archaeological objects from Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Americas. The building contains extensive collections of pottery, sculpture, jewelry, and other artifacts that represent the artistic and material cultures of these regions.

The museum began in 1963 as a university initiative under Chancellor Franklin Murphy before moving into its own dedicated building in 1992. This relocation allowed the creation of a specialized exhibition space that could better present and organize its growing collections.

The museum displays textiles and California Indian baskets that show how craftspeople passed down techniques through generations and expressed cultural identity through their work. The pieces on view reveal everyday practices and artistic traditions that continue to matter in many communities today.

The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday during midday and early evening hours, with full wheelchair accessibility throughout. Plan to spend a couple of hours exploring the galleries and moving between different exhibition areas.

The museum holds the Cerro Portezuelo Archives, extensive documentation from archaeological excavations that offers insights into cultural development in Central Mexico. These records are valuable for research on societies across different historical periods in that region.