Brigham Young University Museum of Peoples and Cultures

The Brigham Young University Museum of Peoples and Cultures is a university museum in Provo that houses over one million objects from South America, Mesoamerica, the American Southwest, and Polynesia. The collection spans from archaeological discoveries to ethnological items representing diverse cultures and time periods.

The museum was founded in 1976 and grew from the university's collections into one of the region's major archaeological institutions. Relocating to its current Canyon Road location in 2014 allowed for significant expansion and improved presentation of the collections.

The collections display ancient textiles from Andean communities, pottery traditions from Mesoamerica, and ceremonial objects from Pacific Island groups. Visitors can observe how different cultures expressed their beliefs and daily practices through material goods.

The museum offers regular guided tours led by knowledgeable staff who explain the objects and their origins. Visitors should plan several hours to explore the different exhibition areas and absorb the detailed information about the collections.

The museum maintains 100,000 archaeological collections containing artifacts from excavation sites throughout Utah that support ongoing research projects. This extensive archival collection remains unknown to many visitors who typically see only the displayed objects.

Location: Provo

Inception: 1982

Website: http://mpc.byu.edu

GPS coordinates: 40.26310,-111.65775

Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:43