San Diego Museum of Man

San Diego Museum of Man’s primary ethnographic collections focus on the Western Hemisphere, particularly California, the Southwest, Mexico, and western South America. Important ancillary collections include Alaska, the Northwest Coast, the Plains, Central America, and lowland South America. Significant comparative collections feature ancient Egypt, Polynesia, and a worldwide assemblage of early weapons. Physical anthropology is represented with skeletal collections of ancient and modern bone diseases, as well as casts documenting human variations and evolution.

Here’s a look at what’s in store for you in the Museum of Man’s permanent collection:

• Footsteps in Time: Four Million Years of Human Evolution: an introduction to humankind's long history and the twists and turns that have made us what we are today as a species
• Ancient Egypt: showcasing rare Egyptian artifacts that date back over 3,000 years
• Children's Discovery Center: where your little ones can dress up in ancient Egyptian costumes and see an Egyptian mummy adorned with royal jewelry
• Kumeyaay: Native Californians: A look at the traditional lifestyles of California’s early Kumeyaay natives

In addition to a stunning permanent collection, special exhibits cycle in and out of the Museum of Man, giving you a rare treat and letting you see traveling artifacts from around the world! Here’s a sneak preview of a few of the museum’s temporary exhibitions:

• Modern Day Mummy: The Art of Mummification: an interesting look at mummification techniques, with some posthumous help from a Baltimore man who donated his body to science.
• Race: Are We So Different?: A biological, cultural, and historical look at race, featuring the unique stories of different members of the human race; this is a thought-provoking exhibit that looks at the science and history of what makes us “different”, and how we, as humans, handle that difference.
• Counter Cultures: The Secret Lives of Games: Dr. Seuss fans will love this one! This exhibit lets you examine games of all kinds from all over the world, create your own games, and even become a game piece! This exhibit was created in part by the Dr. Seuss Fund.

The Museum of Man is really one-of-a-kind, and well worth the visit. You’ll leave with a better understanding of what makes us alike as humans, what makes us different, and what makes us unique in our universe…and if you stop by the Museum Store, you may also leave with a very realistic looking artifact to remind you of your trip!