Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology

Cambridge, United States

3.4

Closed now

15 reviews

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Telephone:
+1 617-496-1027
Website:
www.peabody.harvard.edu
Address:
11 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02138
Harvard Square
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
660 ftQuincy St @ Kirkland St
730 ftKirkland St @ Kirkland Place
820 ftKirkland St @ Sumner Rd
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Good for Kids
Yes

Today

Today 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Cambridge) 06:26 Wednesday, 16 July 2025

Business hours

Monday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Description

Specialties

From Maya monuments to beaded cradles to New Guinea spears, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology has got it. Check out the spectacular murals made by the ancient peoples of the Americas; experience the plains wars from the Lakota perspective, or view archaeological sites from space. The Peabody is one of the oldest museums in the world devoted to anthropology and archaeology and houses one of the most comprehensive records of human cultural history in the Western Hemisphere.

History

Established in 1866.

The Peabody Museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums.

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15 reviews of Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology

No registration required
Place rating: 3
Brookline, MA
The Peabody Museum is on Harvard’s Campus and connected to the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Unfortunately, the Peabody’s exhibits have become tired. A lot of the items have been removed or loaned, which definitely takes away from the collection. Not the best museum for kids, especially with the HMNH right around the corner.
Its such a shame because it is still an impressive collection. I can’t think of a more extensive collection of Native and Latin American history in the Boston area. Hopefully, Harvard will invest some money and time into renovations.
Place rating: 3
Manhattan, NY
Connected to the Harvard Natural History Museum, this is a great extension in terms of exhibits. It is a little less impressive even than the Natural History Museum its connected to but provide a glimpse into some very interesting native American culture exhibits.
The Mesoamerican exhibit is probably even more impressive though and the miniature models are quite illustrative.
Place rating: 3
Boston, MA
Kind of meh in comparison to the Harvard Museum of Natural History that it’s connected to, but hey, it’s included. I would check this place out if you’re really into Latin American and Native American history. I wouldn’t call the place kid UN-​friendly, but I really feel it’s a place that adults could only truly find interesting because you have to appreciate that some of the items are from, and represent cultures that may no longer exist.
Place rating: 3
Stoneham, MA
The museum is, overall, interesting and pretty well-​organized. The people who work there, however, are rather unhelpful. I took a class there before a few months and was rudely informed that I should call the day before next time to make a reservation for a group because we were distracting. Dutifully, I tried to call today, only to discover that even before their official closing hour, it’s impossible to actually reach someone. The collections were interesting, but not necessarily worth the hassle.
Place rating: 3
Somerville, MA
I did not find the collections to be well curated, particularly in the South Pacific section. Artifacts were grouped by region instead of by use or item. Some of the exhibits are cool, and it is worth a look if you are attending the natural history museum, but I would not recommend it as a destination by itself.
Place rating: 4
Long Beach, CA
There is a very well done American Indian display on the ground floor that I’ve not seen on previous visits. I thought out more informative and coherent than many others.
Place rating: 4
Greater Los Angeles, CA
I only got to see the mesoamerican exhibit. There were some very interesting pieces and things here. The stone panels and pieces that were present made me realize that the ancient toltec, aztec, mayan, etc masons were extremely talented craftsmen. Being able to see this kind of exhibit always makes me very happy.
My munchkin however was a little bit scared by some of the toltec and aztec carvings and art of the carvings. The scary effect is definitely within their works.
Pro Tip: Free with museum of natural history.
This place reminded me from what I saw a little bit of the British Museum of Natural History. However it is a bit more interactive showing reliefs of murals and the actual murals. As well as the steps that they took to make the reliefs.
The museum is 4 stories high and each floor is a different type of culture.
Place rating: 3
Cambridge, MA
I felt like I was on a Magic School bus trip-​in a good way. The Peabody Museum primarily features Native American artifacts. But there is a photography exhibit right off the front desk area (Papua New Guinea) There are some sit-​down videos (about Sitting Bull and Lakota warriors). And there’s a Pacific exhibit (featuring great dioramas and items from Borneo, the Philippines, …). It’s a small, but good collection.
Perks:
*The Peabody is connected to the Harvard Museum of Natural History: it’s 2-​for-​1 admission.
*If you have a Harvard ID, you can bring 1 guest for free.
Place rating: 3
Boston, MA
As with the Harvard Museum of Natural History, this museum is free for MA residents Sunday mornings before noon, and so we were able to do it in the same morning (they’re connected).
It’s small, and some exhibits were cooler/​more up to date than others… I particularly liked the Native American exhibit where you could see where the different tribes originated and how they differed, but thought the Pacific Islander area could use a bit more color/​variety (lots and lots of brown spear throwers and other tools, which are cool the first few times you see them, but then get a little dull and start to meld into eachother IMO).
Again, there’s just no comparison to the bigger/​more well known/​more well funded museums, but I can’t complain about the free admission price, that alone was definitely worth the trip. Check the two museums out on a Sunday morning if you’re a MA resident, it’s time well spent.
Place rating: 5
Mt Vernon, NY
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Peabody! We only went because it was included in our admission to the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Next time I will pay the HMNH admission fees purely so I can get into the Peabody! LOVE IT! Yes, it is small, but it didn’t *feel* small. I found most of the exhibits to be spacious and roomy enough to move around even when several other visitors were around.
The HMNH was packed and hard to get around, but many people seemed to not venture into the Peabody, so it felt intimate and welcoming. The entrance, if going in through the HMNH is kind of awkward, and doesn’t flow well from one museum into the other. But, once you are into the museum, it is great. I saw several exhibits and art forms that I hadn’t seen before, and loved the Day of the Dead exhibit — I just wish that exhibit had been given more space.
The lighting also seemed well thought out — enough light to adequately see everything and see the details, but not so much as to jeopardize the art and artifacts.
Place rating: 4
Boston, MA
The idea of Unilocaling a museum is preposterous, but I’m a preposterous kinda guy. I can tell you the only reason I went here was because I was entertaining a female friend, and we’re both into free shit.
This place isn’t free though. However, if you’re a MA state resident, there’s free access in the late afternoon hours. I think it’s pretty affordable otherwise– especially if you drop money on the regular to check out museums.
I thought the exhibits on native cultures of north, central, and south american people were great, and I loved the fact that I somehow ended up in a room full of gems and crystals. That’s the Mineralogical Museum at Harvard University.
… They’re in the same complex.
So my experience with this museum was a good one, and for the size and location this place is great for a date.
Place rating: 3
San Jose, CA
I think a 3 star review is quite appropriate for the Peabody museum because … quite honestly it looked like they just threw some statues and random objects into a room at various corners.
It didn’t look quite as professionally put together as I had hoped and I’m not too sure what the whole theme was supposed to be, it was very Mexican and Indian and Mayan-​ish which only represented one part of the world’s Archaeology I suppose …
It’s free or part of the Harvard Museum of Natural History if you already have a ticket there so it’s no cost to you for a stroll through but I wouldn’t make a special trip to see it.
Place rating: 3
Brighton, MA
so small. so, so small. the thing that irks me about it is that i know harvard has got some really great artifacts locked up somewhere that they aren’t showing the public. don’t get me wrong, mesoamerican artifacts are fascinating, but i have a sneaking suspicion that harvard is holding out on us.
Place rating: 3
Fremont, CA
Went here since it was connected to the Harvard Natural History museum plus I already paid the admission cost of $ 9 so might as well.
I liked the Storied Walls Murals of the Americas & the graffiti looking exhibit of Native American called Remix: Indigenous Identities in the 21st Century. Small museum.
Separate bathrooms available.
Place rating: 4
San Francisco, CA
known primarily as a glass museum, the peabody museum is a great place to visit for all ages ~6 and up. the glass flowers look *real*. a couple hours spent at this unique museum are definitely hours well spent.