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Museum of Anthropology at UBC
Category: Arts & Entertainment Museums Museums [Edit]
6393 NW Marine DrVancouver, BC V6T 1A7
Neighbourhood: UBC
(604) 822-5087
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
31 reviews for Museum of Anthropology at UBC
Review Highlights
"The Bill Reid rotunda is a great place to sit and..."
(in 9 reviews)
"The sheer number of First Nations totems is worth the visit..."
(in 9 reviews)
"Also impressive were the multitude of totem poles."
(in 7 reviews)
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31 reviews in English
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Review from Emilie C.
Vancouver, BC
1/31/2012
An essential stop on the far West, the Museum of Anthropology contains a massive collection of worldly artifacts, sculpture, ceramic, and First Nations art pieces. We went here with some younger family members who enjoyed the experience too. There is just so much to see in the space. There are drawers of hidden treasures and display cases of masks, old puppets, baskets, weapons, everything! Bill Reid's The Raven and the First Men wood carved sculpture is unreal and definitely checking out.
UBC students get in for free with their student card. Everyone should go! UBC students, bring your friends and families. Even if it isn't necessarily "their thing", visiting might foster an interest in history and provide new-found knowledge. -
Review from Sarah A.
11/4/2011 2 Check-ins Here
MOA is a must-see for any visitors to Vancouver. It houses one of the largest collections of First Nations and Asian art in North America. The totem poles and pieces by Bill Reid are stunning, and there is always a new and interesting exhibit to see. The museum also provides spaces for Anthropology scholars to work, and for First Nations community members to gather. There is lots to see and do (and learn) here.
You can reach MOA easily by bus or by car. The drive is stunning, and the view of the North Shore from the museum is also fantastic.
If you are a student or employee of UBC, you can get in for free. -
Review from Lydia H.
9/5/2011
This place is an Anthropology buff's dream!
My favorite was the Multiversity Galleries; it is simply breathtaking. There are artifacts from cultures all over the globe displayed in cases with a gazillion drawers that you can open with more pieces. This gallery is basically the museum's collection on display. I could spend days opening every single drawer.
The sheer number of First Nations totems is worth the visit alone. I appreciated that some of the pieces had a note that the exhibit was on display with permission from a specific tribe. I also enjoyed the mix of "traditional" with contemporary pieces. The special exhibit on the Japanese influence on Inuit prints was really interesting as was the subset exhibit about the Inuit artisans themselves. The Raven and the First Men is also a must see in the Bill Reid rotunda.
I will be back the next time I am in British Columbia . . . I have more drawers to open. -
Review from Lara O.
12/15/2011
I love this place! I bought a groupon for 2 for 1 entry and 10% off at the gift shop. Lots of parking! There is sooo much to see here that I didn't budget enough time to see everything, will have to return. Loved the various videos and could not believe how many artifacts from all over the globe are on display here. I highly recommend spending a rainy saturday here :)
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Review from David L.
8/15/2011 31 photos
M.O.A. is one of those places you will take out of town visitors, especially those who aren't familiar with Canadian First Nations and Inuit artwork. You will see items such as tree-sized totem poles, real Haida First Nations fishing boats, and rarely seen Inuit artwork.
The real highlights of this museum are the wooden sculptures from Canadian First Nations artist named Bill Reid. In additional, there are displays of aboriginal artwork and apparel from other parts of the world too.
It's unfortunate that the interior architecture design doesn't really match what is displayed. Too much grey concrete, like a concrete jungle. You'll feel like you're walking in New York City, and not in Haida Gwaii.
I'd like to see more natural wood used in the construction of the interior for this museum. Also, the space where the totem poles are displayed is usually too bright. I wish they put real walls made out of something other than glass. You'll have to wear sunglasses or you'll have trouble seeing the details, especially if it's a sunny day.
Other than that, it's a nice place to explore on a rainy day in Vancouver. -
Review from Tori T.
5/10/2011
On our recent trip to Vancouver, my beau and I struggled to find a few tourist activities. Most other stops on the trip had plenty of "First Nations" memorabilia but no real information on the "First Nations" people. Luckily, we found the Museum of Anthropology on the University of British Columbia campus. This place had almost exclusive information about First Nations people and other indigenous peoples. It is a good twenty minute drive from downtown Vancouver, but the drive was a great way to get the overall vibe of the city. It was a tad bit difficult to find.
The cost of admission was rather steep compared to most museums. But, like I said, there weren't too many tourist activities in Vancouver so we paid and went in. At the first exhibit we saw, several carved wood pieces, we stopped and read the placard thinking we better get our money's worth. I immediately thought to myself that I was going to be bored here.
Luckily, just down the entry ramp and around the corner was a full room of things I considered much more interesting. There was a wealth of information on the rituals and traditions of the area's indigenous peoples. I had no idea that these tribes were still around and functioning in modern times. A lot of the exhibit focused on how their traditions had changed with modern society. One thing I found interesting, in particular, were all the masks meant to represent the Raven- all the beaks were tied shut so as to prevent the Raven from "chattering" when the mask was not in ceremonial use. Also impressive were the multitude of totem poles.
While the information presented was pretty interesting, I found the exhibits to be somewhat "one note"- too much of the same thing over and over again. I would have liked more variety. And a less expensive admission price! -
Review from Tam F.
8/19/2010 5 photos
I am not a big museum person but my Dad and Toni are, so when they advised we should go here whilst in Vancouver, we listened and we enjoyed.
We were very impressed with the amount of masks and the interesting Native American artifacts and were very appreciative of the docent tour(s) we took both inside and out. The campus the museum is located on is gorgeous as well and it was a really nice way to spend a couple of hours. -
Review from Ed U.
7/18/2010 12 photos
What first drew me to this museum was a National Geographic Traveller article on Vancouver that featured a full-page photo of Bill Reid's impressive yellow cedar sculpture, "The Raven and the First Men" (1980). It was such a striking piece (see photo) that I made a mental note to visit here when I finally made it to Vancouver a decade ago. Very cool.
So I just made a return visit with Jamie W., and it's still a great piece of art showcased in its own rotunda named after the Aborigine artist. I often feel like I am stuck in a clamshell with a bunch of naked people and a big bird is standing on top of us. But there's quite a bit more to see at this museum from the huge Musqueam artifacts in the Great Hall to Chinese ceramics to African textiles to contemporary art pieces from emerging artists in all sorts of forms from sculpture to multimedia.
Outside are recreations of two Haida houses with totem poles surrounding them. Speaking of which, the setting for the museum is really quite beautiful. Sitting on the northwestern edge of the huge University of British Columbia campus, it affords spectacular views of the surrounding inlets and straits. It's as far west as you can go in Vancouver before finding yourself in the Pacific. The C$14 admission is well worth it. There is a new cafe for the parched and the peckish.Listed in: Vancouver, Victoria, Veni,…
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Review from Desiree M.
Halifax, NS
I may be a little biased since I used to be a tour guide at MOA, but I think this place is fantastic. Sure, they're under heavy renovations right now, but when they're finished it will be fantastic once more. If you're into culture, art, and archaeology, this place is a head trip. The endless visible storage drawers and shelves can keep me engrossed for hours, not to mention the centuries-old European ceramics gallery.
The main halls of the museum house the giant totem poles and other First Nations sculpture, and the gallery at the back has changing exhibits (right now it's Samoan tattoos). The visible storage area (closed for renovations) has stuff from all over the world, including some archaeological artifacts. The great thing about this storage is that most of the museum's collection is visible to visitors, unlike most museums where only 5-10 percent is visible at any given time. At the back of the museum, there's a replica traditional Haida longhouse and mortuary house, as well as more totem poles, around an artificial lake that's not usually filled. And of course, there's the gift shop which sells contemporary First Nations art (as well as souvenirs).
Fun fact: MOA was built on a WW2 battery, on top of a network of tunnels. The gun turrets were incorporated into the design - ie. the base of Bill Reid's Raven and the First Men sculpture. -
Review from Gary T.
2/14/2010
I'm a huge history buff and also really appreciate earlier historical cultures, so when I heard that UBC had a museum of anthropology I had to go and see it.
My gf and I arrived here in the early evening and parked across the street in the covered parking structure. Admission was $6, which was a steal in my book. Most museums I've been to as of late are $15 or more.
Once you get past the admission desk you are greeted by the Haida display of enormous totems, canoes, lintels, and ridgepoles. The lighting adds to the intensity of the ancient carvings and it really brings their details out. Down the hall is the static display of other world cultures with shadow box tables that have openable sliding display cases, it's about the closet thing to actually touching the object and allows detailed inspection. The Bill Reid rotunda was awesome, especially the large scale carving of Raven and The First Men.
Definitely a must see when in Vancouver. -
Review from Stephan W.
12/1/2008
It doesn't matter what city my parents are visiting, they'll want to see a museum. Having been brought up with this tendency, I suppose I'm used to it, even if I'd rather be sitting in a cafe people watching.
Our visit to Vancouver was no exception. Mom wanted to see the Museum of Anthropology.
We even knew sort-of where it was. And then we decided that taking the bus from over by the waterfront would be a good idea. On the plus side, we got to see the city. After a bus ride all the way over to the University, and a 20 minute stroll aided by a helpful student we finally found the building. (Note to self: next time, take a taxi...)
Luckily the Museum wasn't due to start renovations until the following week, so we actually got to go inside.
The collection of the Museum seemed somewhat limited, perhaps due to the impending work they're going to do on the place. Once we had spent a little time in the main room looking at the totems, the only other real thing to do was to poke around in the drawers full of artifacts. I can see where the drawers have a great deal of teaching utility, but it seemed like a bit more curation could have made their vast collection more understandable to someone viewing it for the first time. -
Review from Liz S.
8/9/2008 7 photos
I don't care if I sound like your grandmother, you MUST visit the Museum of Anthropology when you are in Vancouver. Not only is it important to experience and understand the native art from this land, the building itself is a pleasure to visit and the perfect place to spend an afternoon.
Designed by Arthur Erikson in 1976, the space is modern, grand, and airy, which provides both a contrast to and the perfect environment for the huge totems.
Because this is a university museum, it is geared towards teaching, and there is plenty to be discovered and explored. If you see what looks like a filing cabinet in the corner of a room , don't dismiss it. Pull open the drawers to discover treasure after treasure from native and distant lands. It's so much fun!
The rotunda, which houses "the Raven and the First Men" sculpture by Bill Reid, is stunning and a great display.
One third of the museum is dedicated to ceramics, which look very small and delicate after seeing the majesty of the totems.
Don't forget to make time to go around back to the garden. You can see a replica of totems in their native environment, and the view is very nice.
When we were there in April, there was construction and prints of plans for expansion. I will definitely be back to see what they have done to the space.
It's about a 20-minute cab ride from downtown, which interesting in and of itself because you get to see something other than the urban landscape. Take a card from your taxi driver so that you can call one after your visit - this place is pretty remote and you will not be able to catch a taxi on the street. And while it is a wonderful place, I wouldn't want to be stuck there overnight. Those totems are BIG!
Now, GO! (shaking umbrella) -
Review from JP D.
Calgary, AB
2/22/2010 12 photos
The Museum of Anthropology at UBC is one of my favorite museums, featuring the iconic art of the first nations of the Westcoast, i can never get tired of the intricate work on display.
This museum is a must see in Vancouver, for Canadians and non-Canadians alike, this museum displays many works that cannot be seen elsewhere. The museum building itself is also an architectural work of art.
The museum also has a very interesting gift-shop, i often dont like gift-shops, but this one is selective and relevant in what it sells -
Review from Peter S.
2/8/2010
Free entry for UBC students = great place to procrastinate.
My half hour detour turned into a two hour wander through Haida land.
The highlight for me was the sounds inside the museum.
Silence. Only a handful of people milling about provided me with ample time to just stare.
As Lee mentions, the Rotunda is a great spot to ponder life. I decided it would be pretty cramped being stuck in a clam shell forever.
So... Why not five stars? Well, it lacked a WOW factor. It was more like a 3/4 wow really. The Multiversity Galleries are the newest addition. But the special fibre optic lighting leaves this area kind of dark. There is so much stuff crammed in here, it is a bit confusing. One step to the left and it's Polynesia and whoops turn around it's the arctic. Huh? The European Ceramics Gallery is a bit of a snooze fest. It's a room full of plates. But if plates are your 'thing'. You have found HEAVEN!
The security is a bit tighter now, I guess they got scolded pretty bad after the break in. But they are all pretty friendly. One mentioned that Mondays are typically the slowest days to visit. And that Tuesdays are "Kids Days". He said the latter with a dreading sort of voice.
All in all the MOA is a great place to visit. Even for locals.Listed in: Learning is COOL!
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Review from Alison S.
10/8/2009
I loved this museum!!! Also getting in for free with my UBC student card, not too shabby.
The MOA has an extensive collection of First Nations art and sculptures, including many from the renowned artist Bill Reid. I love their "open storage" cabinets that let you poke through literally tens of thousands of interesting artifacts from cultures all over the world, smartly stored in glass topped drawers.
The main foyer is beautiful with huge windows that let in the sunlight and give a expansive view of the Coast Salish longhouse constructed behind the museum. You can walk outside and view the longhouse up close.
I think it goes without saying that a lot of us go to UBC for the education, but stay for the view. It's gorgeous here. Take a walk around after going to the museum, this campus has a location that cannot be surpassed.Listed in: Vancouver Spots
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Review from Sandra W.
Vancouver, BC
5/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Carl Beam exhibit is really good. This is a great museum to visit on a lazy holiday afternoon.
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Review from Khamis H.
1/22/2010
I was blown away by UBC, but more so I was filled with emotions the second I walked into the great hall at the MOA. The artifacts that this museum possesses in its collection are truly astounding. I felt extremely lucky to make it across town after wasting time trying to see some silly Olympic venue (which was not open for walking around 1 month before the games). I ended up having a little over 20 minutes to wonder the museum for free. Thanks front desk boy!
Seriously if you ever find your self in Vancouver, put this on top of your list of things to do. -
Review from Noa G.
Vancouver, BC
10/21/2008 1 photo
So much of Vancouver and B.C.'s history is tied to the Haida First Nations; the Museum of Anthropology at UBC has made it a priority to preserve and showcase this original aboriginal culture to the public.
The museum is an award-winning cliff-top facility; the highlight of the museum's collection is the sculpture "The Raven and the First Men," carved by the late Haida artist Bill Reid. The museum includes one of the largest collections of Haida carvings in the world, as well as an impressive collection of masks, totems, textiles, sculptures, and gold and silver. -
Review from Carolyn C.
10/25/2008
As an anthropology major, I was sooo disappointed to find out the museum was undergoing renovations during my first visit to Vancouver earlier this month.
I hope to see it next time.. whenever that will be.
UBC seems like a great school. -
Review from Cameron M.
Toronto, ON
12/1/2008
It's sad to say but Vancouver is far from great when it comes to museums. Thankfully the best one we have puts its focus on local indigenous culture and really creates a great picture for tourists of some of the amazing work and culture that could be found in our country.
The Museum of Anthropology at UBC contains one of the largest collections of aboriginal woodwork and artifacts I've seen in a Canadian museum, period. And beyond just doing a great job of exhibiting, this museum makes a good point of showing how the pieces are restored, researched and cataloged. On top of that, they do a great job of telling the story of the artifacts and the people that produced them without becoming too showy or losing focus in the process.
I think a testament to how greatly curated this museum is, is the porcelain room. No way in any other context could you have me staring at flipping dishes for an hour without strapping me down and forcing me, yet this museum makes the subtleties and artistry involved really pop.
It should be noted that the delights here are QUITE esoteric and unless you have a kid very interested in art or native culture this will be a tough sell. There's a lot to learn but you've really gotta have it in your head to learn and that learning is fun or this place might seem a little too stuffy.
Still for an adult, interested in the culture or otherwise this is absolutely the best curated history or science museum in the area. -
Review from Alex N.
11/4/2010
Wonderful. Such a great collection of Northwest Native Art. This is a must.
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Review from Christine R.
New Westminster, BC
10/27/2008
As an anthro student at UBC, I spent a lot of time here. The totem poles and carvings and jewellery are probably what most people think of when they come here, but I have always loved the visible storage rooms. That's where you'll find all the drawers and cases full of artifacts from cultures here and around the world. This is a unique feature of the museum - most museums do keep the vast majority of their collections locked away in storage rooms away from the public, but MOA found a way to keep them accessible.
Unfortunately, MOA is now being renovated and will be closed to the public until March 2009, according to their website. The plans look pretty extensive, and the museum will be expanded. I'm looking forward to the new and improved MOA when it re-opens. -
Review from Mr P.
8/12/2008
I discovered this museum years ago when I visited my folks in Richmond. My folks were not museum goers, so I went by myself. What a gem! I spent the whole afternoon here going throgh the drawers one after another. It sort of feels like going through someone's file cabinet and finding one thing after another to admire. And the drawers just keep on and on and on. They had to kick me out that first time.
To top it off, here was where I first came across Nick Bentock's book, Griffin and Sabrin. That series of book and the museum sort of comes together - treasures from far away and long time ago. -
Review from Liz B.
Vancouver, BC
2/3/2010
Took the boys there for the re-opening, to see some friends dancing at the opening ceremony. They were excellent ( Dancers of Damelahamid), highly recommended.
Anyway the museum itself ? It is amazing! The boys ( 6 & 8 years old), loved exploring the display cases and using this very cool interactive map. We were only there for a short time ( 1.5 hours), but could have stayed a lot longer. We'll be back! -
Review from Will C.
7/3/2010
All the other glowing reviews are true. I just have to add that the Multiverse was unique and amazing. Drawer after drawer of little artifacts that you can press really close to, from every corner of the globe. Hundreds of drawers in all. Fishhooks, darts, swords, pipes, figure, bracelets, bags, bowls, combs, all the stuff of life. I could spend forever looking at these things.
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Review from Lee N.
Vancouver, BC
2/8/2010
The new exhibit space and layout is very good and well worth the long wait for them to open. It is part of my visitor's tour and people just love the building inside and out. The new galleries are so much better than the old space, museum design has come a long way in the last few years. The Bill Reid rotunda is a great place to sit and contemplate where to go for dinner.
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Review from Tyler b.
6/1/2009
i've been here a couple times, and it's kinda neat, but not too impressive.
by far the coolest aspects of this museum are the fact that it's within the UBC campus, and therefore oriented towards research. there's one part where there is a glass wall and you can see into the back storage area. you can see all kinds of masks and things that are numbered, tagged, and places on the shelves. there was also a cool similar area, where you would open drawers to find many other categorized items. i'm not sure if these best features will be around anymore....
right now they're undergoing heavy renovations, so all the interesting parts of the museum are blocked off.... you can still go see the earthenware dishes, if you like, and a few totem poles, but that's about it.
the reason i went recently was to see the exhibit on tattoos. it had so much potential and i was so very disappointed when i saw it. basically there were a few dozen photos, most of which were uninteresting. that's it. only poster size prints of digital photos. the content of the photos wasn't even cool or informative at all, either. there were no explanatory captions anywhere.
i gave this museum a tentative 3 stars. these renovations have the potential to turn it into a great place, however, if they stay true to their original, offbeat spacial concepts. -
Review from Tammy K.
7/23/2010
We were most impressed with the native american exhibits. Overall I thought this place was a little high-priced. A lot of the exhibits became repetitive to me, but it's a very impressive collection that they have. It was worth it to see once, but I doubt I would go back.
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Review from Ali P.
8/12/2008 2 photos
My friends were disappointed as they thought this museum would feature more exhibits relating to biological anthropology. But I'm a sucker for First Nations (Native American) cultural stuff and Arthur Erickson architecture, so I was sold.
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Review from TL C.
8/13/2008
I love this little museum and I think it's one of the best things to do in Vancouver (aside from the Chinese food and Seafood.) True it is small and it's not going to be having any huge block buster shows but the collection is magnificent and the rows of drawers might seem to be something to over look but please don't they are wonderful.
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Review from Kaaren D.
8/13/2008 4 photos
Getting to this museum made our vacation. Sis and I went here on BC Day, and it was a treat...no screaming kids. She was excited to see so many pieces by Bill Reid, a major totem/Native NoAmerican artist. I loved the ceramic display, both because it was full of pieces I had never seen before, and because it gave a good explanation of the differences in the glazes used on dishware and pottery. We rounded out the adventure with a trip to the gift shop where we found some exquisite bowls made from stone that were so transparent they looked like china.
