exterior of the university museum behind trees in early autumn colors

Main Content

About Our Museum

First opened as a natural history museum in 1874, the University Museum at Southern Illinois University Carbondale has evolved into a teaching museum that represents the humanities, the sciences and the arts. While our focus is on southern Illinois, our humanities collection includes ethnographic materials that allow us to share the world with a diverse campus and a region that is isolated from urban centers. With roughly 70,000 objects in our care, the University Museum captures and illuminates the human story, opening a window on who we are and where we came from.

Museum Hours

The University Museum will be closed to the public from 5/13 - 6/13 in conjunction with the SIUC Spring 2023 Intersession.

Tuesday - Friday: Noon - 4pm
Saturday: 1pm - 4pm
Sunday & Monday: Closed

Free and open to all.

The University Museum is closed to the public during all SIU breaks and holidays.


Public metered parking available across from the Student Center and beside Woody Hall.

Exhibits

North Hall

Mitchell Gallery

Continuum Gallery

Atrium Gallery

South Hall

the closing reception for women's voices 3: make/believe will be held on may 6, 2023, from 1-4pm at the general john a. logan museum at 1613 edith street, murphysboro, il, 62966. there will also be an artist talk with gues artist mary pachikara on may 8, 2023, from 2-3pm in the women's voices gallery, at the logan museum, during which she will speak on what inspires and motivates her to create.

peripheral visions: capturing the numinous inside and out, an mfa thesis exhibition by jodi ruffner, will be on display from april 11-29, 2023, with a reception on friday, april 14, from 6-9pm.

huichol balancing hybridity, an exhibition by martha osornio ruiz and sarah-anne winchester, will be on display from january 24 - may 13, 2023. there will be a reception on april 27, 2023, from 6-9pm.

The University Museum's online collections have moved to a new home. Our digital exhibitions and recorded artist's talks can be found on the Resources page through the main navigation menu.