Museum of Anthropology

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia (often called MOA) is located at 6393 North West Marine Drive, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is a cultural treasurehouse that offers visitors a vivid window into world arts and cultures, especially those of Indigenous people of the Northwest Coast and many other regions. Whether you are interested in Indigenous history and art, ceramics, global cultures, or simply beautiful architecture set amid tranquil grounds, the Museum of Anthropology provides an inspiring experience in a positive, thoughtful setting.

About the Museum

The mission of MOA is to promote awareness and understanding of culturally diverse ways of knowing the world through challenging and innovative programmes and partnerships with Indigenous, local, and global communities.

When you visit, you can explore a large ethnographic collection of nearly fifty-thousand objects from all over the world—including Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, and the South Pacific. The collections are not merely on display; MOA also supports originating communities in how objects are cared for, used, and accessed, recognizing that many cultural objects have emotional, spiritual, or non-material significance.

Permanent exhibitions are a highlight. Among them are the Great Hall, where one can see towering house posts, totem poles, carved figures, and iconic works by artists such as Bill Reid—including The Raven and the First Men. The Multiversity Galleries: Ways of Knowing present thousands of objects arranged not only by Western museological standards but also in collaboration with Indigenous communities, with interactive display cases and computer terminals so visitors can view images, audio, video and detailed information. There is the Koerner European Ceramics Gallery, showcasing over six hundred European ceramics from the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries, complemented by contemporary works and textiles. Outside the galleries, the grounds are also part of the experience: Haida Houses, carved poles, and the Yosef Wosk Reflecting Pond make the outdoor space evocative and peaceful.

MOA also offers rotating thematic and feature exhibitions. For example, Nuxalk Strong: Dancing Down the Eyelashes of the Sun is a current exhibition that brings together over sixty historic treasures, family and private collections, and expresses Nuxalk nation’s cultural resurgence, language revitalization, ceremony, and ancestral governance. There is also VALUE: Rebecca Belmore at the Museum of Anthropology, a feature exhibition exploring Indigenous concepts of value, colonial histories, and how objects relate to land, bodies, and material culture.

For practicalities: the museum is open daily, generally 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, with extended hours until 9:00 pm on Thursdays. Admission rates vary by age and group, and there are many opportunities for reduced or free entry—Indigenous people, children up to age five, UBC students and staff, members of the museum, and others have free admission under certain conditions. There is a café on site (Cedar Café) and a shop for those wishing to take home something connected to the Museum’s collections.

Interesting Facts

The Great Hall has 15-metre-high walls of glass and features large carved poles, house posts, and figures, many from the mid-nineteenth century.
MOA houses the world’s largest collection of works by Haida artist Bill Reid. His sculpture The Raven and the First Men is a central piece in the Bill Reid Rotunda.
The Koerner European Ceramics Gallery’s collection includes pieces from the sixteenth century to the nineteenth century, many considered among the finest in North America.
The Museum Grounds include Haida Houses and memorial and mortuary poles, such as carved poles by Jim Hart, Chief Walter Harris, and Mungo Martin, beside the reflective pond that mirrors both nature and sculpture.
MOA is deeply engaged in Indigenous access and engagement: its exhibitions such as Nuxalk Strong are co-curated with Indigenous knowledge holders; its policies acknowledge that Indigenous communities retain not just physical but non-material rights over cultural heritage.
The museum has digital resources: an online catalogue system called MOA-CAT where nearly all collection records are available; also the Reciprocal Research Network which shares First Nations items with other institutions.

Photo Gallery

Physical Location

Contact Details

Phone: +16 04 827 5932

Website: moa.ubc.ca/

Facebook: facebook.com/MOAUBC/

Conclusion

If you are planning a visit to Vancouver or are simply curious about the art, history, and worldviews of Indigenous and global cultures, the Museum of Anthropology at UBC is an inspiring destination. It blends beautiful artifacts with powerful stories, reflecting not only material craft but also living culture, community, and knowledge. The architecture, exhibitions, and outdoor setting combine to give an experience that is both visually striking and emotionally resonant.

You will leave with a deeper appreciation for the diversity of human creativity, for the resilience of Indigenous nations, and for the ways in which museums can serve as bridges between cultures. Whether you linger over the reflections in the Yosef Wosk Pond, explore the display cases in the Multiversity Galleries, contemplate the scale of totem poles in the Great Hall, or encounter the rich ceramics collection, the Museum of Anthropology offers something meaningful for everyone. It is more than a museum—it is a place of encounter, respect, learning, beauty, and connection.