Museum of Anthropology at UBC

Located on the campus of the University of British Columbia, the esteemed Vancouver Museum of Anthropology has been welcoming visitors since 1949. Home to one of the most impressive anthropological collections in the world, this excellent museum of global culture is a mecca for history students, researchers and casual visitors.Architecturally, the museum is a fitting repository for the collection it houses. The eminent Canadian architect Arthur Erickson took inspiration from the post-and-beam architecture of the First Nations People and employed this alongside floor-to-ceiling glass panels to create an inviting and thoughtful space.This world-renowned custodian of cultural treasures is home to 38,000 ethnographic artefacts as well as over 535,000 unique architectural items that hail from the South Pacific, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. The museum also has an intelligent, touch-screen digital catalogue system which provides images, audio and video making it easy for visitors to identify and locate specific collections of interest.Fittingly, the museum pays a fine tribute to the First Nations People of British Columbia. As you make your way into the Great Hall, appreciate the way the light dapples on the totem poles from the Haida Islands and note the intricate detail on the selection of indigenous wood carvings from First Nation villages. The galleries and spaces are filled with an array of inspiring collections but many would argue that the highlight of the entire museum is the monumental cedar sculpture ‘The Raven and the First Men’ by Bill Reid, one of Canada’s most distinguished sculptors.The Vancouver Museum of Anthropology consistently seeks to promote intercultural understanding through a fantastic range of public programmes. Anyone visiting Vancouver who is interested in developing an understanding and appreciation of global indigenous cultures, will enjoy this wonderful collection.