5 Things to Know Before You Go
Planning your visit to the Museum of Art & Archaeology's newly renovated galleries? The new location gives students and the entire Columbia community a way to explore six continents and six millennia — all without leaving mid-Missouri through galleries which include permanent and rotating exhibits from ancient artifacts to contemporary art.
1. Always Free
The Museum is open to the community and admission is always free. However, you might want to bring money for the Museum Store or the Art-o-mat art vending machine.
AV Aureus of Hadrian, Roman, 134-138 CE, Minted in Rome, Gold, Museum purchase (60.32)
2. When and Where
Hours
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday
- noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
Address
The museum in the east wing of Ellis Library (across from Memorial Union) on the ground floor/garden level. There are two outside entrances - one off of Lowry Mall, and an accessible entrance off of Hitt Street. The museum can be accessed from inside the library by taking the stairs across from the circulation desk, or the elevator, to the ground floor.
Parking and driving
Metered parking is available nearby in the Hitt Street visitor lot and several other locations around campus. Hitt Street Garage is up the road and always free on weekends.
Between 8:15 a.m. and 3:45 p.m., when school is in session, several sections of campus streets are closed — including the section of Hitt Street in front of the museum.
3. Manners, Please
- Please don’t touch the art or use flash photography.
- Food and drinks are not allowed inside the museum.
- Feel free to bring your sketchbook (pencils only).
- Please leave your back pack at home (but if you bring it, we will provide a complimentary storage locker for safe keeping)
Greg Constantine (Canadian, b. 1938), VINCENT ATTENDS "HOMAGE TO VAN GOGH" EXHIBIT AT MOMA, XXIV/XXV, 1982, Lithograph, Gift of Dr. Christopher A. Graf (85.241)
4. What You'll See
The museum’s exhibitions are wide-ranging and include both permanent and temporary exhibits. You’ll see objects spanning six continents and 60,000 years — from ancient works to contemporary art.
Visit the MA&A calendar for the latest info on upcoming exhibits, special events, and classes, workshops and programs for kids.
Salvador Dali (Spanish, 1904–1984), The Eye of Surrealistic Time, from the series Memories of Surrealism, 1971, Etching and Lithograph, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Small (79.111.11)
5. Ways to Visit
Self-guided visits
Visit any time during our regular hours and browse at your own pace.
Class visits
Contact the museum to schedule experiential learning opportunities for K-12 classes, University of Missouri classes or classes from other colleges and universities.
Community group visits
The Museum offers guided tours of special exhibitions and permanent collection galleries for groups of 5 or more. Guided group tours must be scheduled in advance.
Robert F. Bussabarger (American, 1922-2013), OMNIBUS, ca. early 1980s, Ceramic, Gift in memory of the artist Robert F. Bussabarger from his family (2014.177)