---
title: "Museum of Anthropology"
description: "Museum of Anthropology at UBC houses world-class Northwest Coast First Nations art, monumental totem poles, and 50,000+ artifacts in visible storage."
url: "https://viatravelers.com/places/museum-of-anthropology-ubc/"
published_at: "2025-11-13T12:08:12-06:00"
updated_at: "2026-09-04T01:49:38-06:00"
author: "Kyle Kroeger"
categories:
  - "Canada"
  - "North America"
---

The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia stands as a masterful union of cultural preservation and architectural innovation. Designed by renowned Canadian architect Arthur Erickson, the museum’s dramatic concrete and glass structure draws inspiration from First Nations building traditions, creating a profound dialogue between contemporary design and Indigenous spatial concepts. Housing one of the world’s finest collections of Northwest Coast First Nations art, the museum’s breathtaking Great Hall showcases monumental totem poles, house posts, and carved figures against a backdrop of glass walls that connect these treasures to their cultural landscape. Beyond its spectacular Indigenous collections, the museum’s Multiversity Galleries provide access to over 50,000 global artifacts through an innovative visible storage system that democratizes cultural exploration. As both a research institution and public museum, it maintains deep collaborative relationships with source communities, particularly the Musqueam Nation whose unceded territory it occupies. Through its groundbreaking approach to presenting cultural heritage with dignity and context, the museum challenges colonial museum paradigms while offering visitors an unparalleled journey into human creativity, resilience, and diversity.

### Cultural Context

This cultural institution represents the collective memory and artistic heritage of Canada, offering visitors deep insights into the local traditions, customs, and cultural values of V6T 1Z2.

### Historical Context

The Museum of Anthropology (MOA) at the University of British Columbia was established in 1947, originally to house and showcase the university’s growing collection of ethnographic and archaeological artifacts. Its development was significantly influenced by the vision of anthropologist and collector Charles Edward Borden, who laid the groundwork for the museum’s focus on Indigenous cultures of the Pacific Northwest. The current building, designed by renowned Canadian architect Arthur Erickson, was completed in 1976 and marked a turning point in the museum’s history by providing a dedicated space that honored the cultural heritage of First Nations peoples. Over the decades, MOA has expanded its collections through collaborations with Indigenous communities, emphasizing respectful stewardship and repatriation efforts. The museum’s evolution reflects broader societal shifts toward recognizing Indigenous sovereignty and cultural preservation, making it a dynamic institution that both preserves and interprets the rich histories of Indigenous peoples in Canada and beyond. Today, MOA continues to serve as a vital center for research, education, and cultural exchange, rooted in a deep respect for the traditions and knowledge of the Indigenous peoples whose artifacts it houses.

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