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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Museum of Anthropology

Exhibits

The museum setting provides a dynamic learning environment where both students and the public may explore topics of interest at their own pace. The Gordon L. Grosscup Museum of Anthropology offers both changing and permanent exhibits. The permanent displays are joint student and faculty productions that offer insight into the kinds of questions that are explored by the different sub-fields of anthropology. The material culture of both modern and ancient societies is used to illustrate different aspects of human evolution, world religion, artistic expression, technology and gender.

The program of changing exhibits highlights current research in anthropology and links it to important social and cultural issues. These exhibits demonstrate the value of an anthropological perspective in addressing issues of local and global concern and are designed to foster a deeper understanding of the social questions raised.

The Art of the Drink: From Metro Detroit to KwaZulu-Natal

The process of fermentation was discovered independently by various cultures around the world. The earliest evidence of alcoholic beverages was found in China, dating from around 7000 BCE.

This exhibition explores material culture emerging from the production and imbibing of grain-based alcoholic beverages, generally known as beer and spirits. Featured artifacts related to drinking are from Asia, Africa, and South America as well as North America and Europe and include Zulu beer pots, Peruvian chicha vessels, Swedish beer mugs, as well as items from Prohibition-era Detroit. Wayne State Chemistry Professor Steven Firestine also talks about the art, science and history of beer and Michigan's pivotal role in it.

The Art of the Drink: From Metro Detroit to KwaZulu-Natal. Featuring a vase, beer cups and bubbles

Schedule 🗓️

Beginning March 25, gallery hours will be Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday 5 to 8 p.m. Hours are subject to change based on university schedule and volunteer availability. The exhibit will be up through fall 2024. The Grosscup Museum is free and open to the public in room 1227 of Old Main. 

The Gordon L. Grosscup Museum of Anthropology is pleased to host multiple exhibitions per year to engage our students and the public in the breadth of research within the field of anthropology.

Past exhibits