This review of the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology is part of our Summer Series: Wednesday Activity Reviews.
Did you know that University of Michigan has its own Museum of Archaeology? The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology on the University of Michigan campus focuses on archaeology from the Mediterranean region.
Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
The museum is not large. It is focused on ancient Mediterranean civilizations, particularly Egypt during the Roman occupation. My daughter and I spent about 35 minutes in the museum.
One of the highlights at the University of Michigan Museum of Archaeology is the child mummy.
She enjoyed exploring the drawers under the exhibits with more artifacts.
It was so interesting to see the horse toy artifact. Several years ago we attended a Family Day event at the Kelsey Museum. At that event the kids made a paper version of the horse.
Make sure to visit the upstairs section of the museum. I loved the cross section of the bath house. My daughter was very impressed with the murals from a house. I don’t have pictures. On our trip I was experimenting with Instagram Stories. I took the photo in the story and didn’t save it to my camera roll.
Visiting Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
Getting to the Kelsey Museum
The Kelsey Museum’s address is 434 South State Street. However, the main museum entrance is on Maynard St. There is currently a lot of construction around the museum. The State St sidewalk north of the museum is closed and several walking paths in the area are closed. Note only the Maynard entrance is accessible, you will have to use stairs at the State Street entrance/exit.
Parking is available on the street and in several nearby lots/garages. Since we visited when University of Michigan was out of session, I found street parking on State Street. The University of Michigan visitor lot at 400 Thompson St is very close to the Maynard entrance. The city’s Maynard Structure (324 Maynard St) is also a short walk. The Kelsey Museum is also easily accessible by bus.
Kelsey Museum Hours and Admission
The Kelsey Museum’s hours are:
- Mondays – Closed
- Tuesday-Friday – 9a-4p
- Saturday & Sunday – 1-4p
Museum admission is free. Donations are welcome.
Kelsey Museum COVID Precautions
Since Kelsey Museum is part of University of Michigan it follows their COVID-19 precautions. As of August 2021, all visitors must wear masks on campus regardless of vaccination status. Each guest must also complete the ResponsiBlue health screening. Check for current requirements on their COVID reopening page.
Kelsey Museum Events
The Kelsey Museum occasionally runs family friendly events. My daughter loved their family days in preschool/early elementary. They also hold storytimes that relate to different exhibits and family friendly tours. Many of their events are currently being offered virtually.
Other Activities Near Kelsey Museum
Since the Kelsey Museum is on campus, there are plenty of other nearby activities. While the Natural History Museum is currently closed, the University of Michigan Museum of Art is close by. On our visit, we started with lunch at Totoro. There are plenty of good restaurant choices in the area. We also recommend gelato at Iorio’s after visiting the museum.
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