Lam Museum of Anthropology, Wake Forest University

Discover North Carolina’s only museum dedicated to the study of global cultures. Explore stories of humanity, from ancient archaeological sites to the celebrations and struggles of today. Learn about people from around the world through their everyday objects, ceremonial artifacts, and visual arts. The Museum is located on the campus of Wake Forest University. Please call or email for turn by turn directions.

Exhibits

Life after Death: The Day of the Dead in Mexico
The Lam Museum’s annual exhibit explores the Mexican celebration of Día de Muertos. The exhibit’s centerpiece is a traditional ofrenda, an altar with food and beverage offerings, flowers, sugar skulls, and photos of deceased family members. The colorful exhibit includes information on the celebration’s history and its unique skeleton-themed folk art. This year, the largest ever installation, will also feature a cemetery display and a discussion of the commercialization of the holiday in the United States. Exhibit text is in English and Spanish.

Living Arts of the Hopi
The Hopi Tribe of northeastern Arizona has weaving, pottery-making, basket-making, kachina carving, and silversmithing traditions that are hundreds of years old. The objects featured in this exhibit show the variety of arts created on the mesas of the Hopi. Although themes and ideas are similar within each art form, there is great diversity in styles, materials, and techniques among Hopi artists and villages. The exhibit explores how these arts have changed over time and continue to evolve.

Stories of Humanity: Anthropology in North Carolina
Anthropology is the study of humans. It is a big topic, including everything from basic biology to complex cultures. The topic is so vast that anthropologists specialize in one of four subfields just to make sense of the diversity within their discipline. Each of the subfields—biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and anthropological archaeology—have a different focus, and its anthropologists have developed unique methods for investigating humanity. These investigations take place everywhere, including right here in North Carolina. In this permanent exhibit, visitors will learn how anthropologists work together to tell stories of humanity here in our own state.

Scavenger hunts are available for children of all ages.

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