Museum of Anthropology at UBC

The Museum of Anthropology is an ethnographic and material culture institution at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. It comprises a main building with large windows and exposed concrete walls that allow daylight to fall on the displayed objects.

The institution began in the late 1940s as part of university research and moved after several decades into the current concrete building. Architect Arthur Erickson designed the structure in the 1970s with views toward the surrounding landscape.

The collection holds material evidence of cultures from around the world and displays in the great hall monumental carvings from Northwest Coast peoples. Visitors can see everyday tools, ritual masks, and carefully crafted objects that show how people shaped their ways of living.

Access is located on the university campus and can be reached by public transit or car. The rooms are largely at ground level and offer guided tours in several languages.

A sculpture in yellow cedar stands in a round chamber and depicts a Haida creation narrative. Artist Bill Reid created the work with detailed carvings showing figures emerging from a shell.

Location: Vancouver

Inception: 1947

Architects: Arthur Erickson, Nick Milkovich

Official opening: 1947

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Made from material: concrete

Address: 6393 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z2

Opening Hours: Sunday-Saturday 10:00-17:00; Thursday 10:00-21:00; October 15-May 15: Monday off; December 25 off

Phone: +16048275932

Email: info@moa.ubc.ca

Website: https://moa.ubc.ca

GPS coordinates: 49.26917,-123.25972

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29