Penn Museum | Penn Today

After ‘long-term extended loan,’ Penn Museum sends ancient Iraqi artifacts home

The Penn Museum is bringing 3 boxes of ancient artifacts to the Iraq embassy in Washington, D.C. to be returned to their country of origin. “All the tablets were shipped out to be studied because no one in Iraq at the time could read them,” said the Museum’s Brad Hafford.

sphinx in the archway of the museum entrance

Penn Museum’s transformation revealed

The main level reopens after a historic renovation featuring the relocated sphinx and completely reimagined Africa and Mexico/Central America galleries.

Penn Museum redesign aims beyond academics

Julian Siggers of the Penn Museum spoke about the galleries’ reopening. “The collection is too good for it not to be a public museum,” he said. “This is the first time when you will really be able to see how we’ve opened this museum up, deliberately targeting it for public engagement.”

The new Penn Museum: Thousands of years in the making

The Penn Museum’s re-opening celebration takes place this weekend. “What this museum does is tell the story of who we are and where we came from,” said director Julian Siggers. “And we designed our galleries with, very much, that in mind.”

Ancient Greek settlement with purple-producing shells and carved fish tanks discovered on tiny island

The Penn Museum has confirmed research that identifies Minoan-era Crete as the production site of a variety of vibrant dyes, including red, purple, and yellow.

Students examine Queen Puabi's Haddress through glass case

Five events to watch for in November

On the calendar for November around campus: an art party at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Penn Museum's annual Student Gala, and much more.

people gathered around surveying iraqi destruction

A quest to restore cultural heritage in Iraq, one site at a time

Penn archaeologists, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Mosul and Iraq’s State Board of Antiquities and Heritage, seek to undo the terrible destruction ISIS wrought, particularly on targeted minority groups.

Penn Museum overhauls brand ahead of gallery reopening

The Penn Museum was highlighted for its brand overhaul. “Our new brand identity is something we’ve designed very carefully to convey a spirit of openness and an impression that this is a museum for everyone,” said director Julian Siggers.

A group of people looking at photos on a table

How Penn is advancing language learning inside—and out of—the classroom

This summer, the Center for East Asian Studies and the Department of East Asian Language and Civilizations welcomed 15 teachers from around the country to learn the latest in critical language teaching.

Three people posing by a doorway with a cello and harp

Five events to watch for in August

BlackStar Film Festival, a special 12@12 at the Arthur Ross Gallery, and an alcohol-themed tour through Penn Museum stock up late-summer events in August.

Filters