Penn Museum
The Penn Museum has been uncovering our shared humanity across continents and millennia since 1887. Now, through The Power of Penn Campaign, we have dramatically reconfigured our historic building, furthered our research and technology, and developed exciting new programs enabling the Museum to unveil thousands of previously unseen artifacts, expand classroom and fieldwork opportunities for students, and make the visitor experience more welcoming, comfortable, and meaningful. By transforming our signature spaces, we are literally letting in the light to spark curiosity, wonder, and discovery for all who visit.
7,837
Donors
$97.4
Million Raised
Highlighted Accomplishments
Transformed the visitor experience with a new Main Entrance anchored by the largest ancient Egyptian sphinx in the western hemisphere; galleries featuring art from the Middle East, Mexico and Central America, and Africa; a restoration of the historic Harrison Auditorium; and enhanced visitor amenities.
Secured funding for a dramatic Eastern Mediterranean Gallery set to open in fall 2022 and for the early phases of a spectacular installation of the Museum’s ancient Egyptian tomb chapel and the only Pharaonic palace outside of Egypt.
Established Penn’s role as the leading teaching center for archaeology in North America with a new lab-based Center for the Analysis of Archaeological Materials, with the facilities, materials, equipment, and expert personnel to teach and mentor students in a range of scientific techniques.
Expanded community education initiatives for all ages with new enrichment programs, including Unpacking the Past, a grant-funded partnership with the School District of Philadelphia that engages middle school students and their teachers in studies of the ancient world.
Advanced discovery of our human past by establishing endowed curatorial positions to support the Museum’s work in the Mediterranean and ancient Mesopotamia and funding groundbreaking new research around the world.
“The Penn Museum has been at the center of my career since my graduate school days—in my ancient Near Eastern specialty, the collection is unparalleled. Today, Campaign gifts have transformed the Museum’s discovery, teaching, and galleries—and magnified our impact on the communities we serve, locally and globally.”