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Welcome to the Penn Museum blog. First launched in January 2009, the Museum blog now has over 800 posts covering a range of topics in the categories of Museum, Collection, Exhibitions, Research, and By Location. Here you’ll hear directly from our staff and Penn students about their work, research, experiences, and discoveries. To explore the Museum's other digital content, visit The Digital Penn Museum.


Kongo Nail Figures

By: Amy Ellsworth

19th Century Nail Figures from Zaire. Nkisi N’kondi, Nail Figures, Lower Zaire River Region, Zaire (Kongo), 19th century. Penn Museum Object #s 30-46-2, AF 5361, AF 3684. Meet the Nkisi Nkondi. These sacred items were carved by the people of the Congo, and used for protecting the village, fighting evil spirits, settling disputes, and sealing agreements. […]

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One Ticket, Two Awesome Museums

By: Tom Stanley

Penn Museum has partnered with the Mütter Museum, another of Philadelphia’s most unique and intriguing destinations, in offering a double admission ticket for both museums! Between the archaeological and anthropological wonders that grace the galleries of Penn Museum, and the many anatomical marvels on display at the Mütter, you’re bound to discover a thing or […]

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Experience “Highlights of the Galleries” with new iPod Touch tour

By: Tom Stanley

Visitors can now explore Penn Museum’s world-class galleries in a brand new way, with the “Highlights of the Galleries” iPod Touch tour! This fun and fact-filled tour,  featuring translations in English, Spanish and American Sign Language, guides visitors through each of the Museum’s permanent galleries, helping them take a closer look at some of the […]

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African and Caribbean Ambassadors, Area Business Leaders, Meet at the Penn Museum

By: Tom Stanley

Ambassadors from several African and Caribbean countries joined with Philadelphia area regional business leaders Friday, November 11, 2011, when the Penn Museum was host to a business roundtable discussion presented by the African and Caribbean Business Council (ACBC). The program ran throughout the morning, concluding with an African-style luncheon in the Museum’s Lower Egyptian Gallery, […]

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Imagine Africa Community Night

By: Amy Ellsworth

Imagine Africa Community Night, a set on Flickr. Heart-warming photos from our last Imagine Africa Community Night… Which one is your favorite? Recognize anyone? This is my favorite: Dancing at Community Night

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10,000 Dominoes

By: Amy Ellsworth

On Sunday, November 6, the Super Domino Brother set up 10,000 colorful dominoes in the Chinese Rotunda and set off the Rube-Goldberg-esque extravaganza with an audience of more than 100 enthusiastic visitors. This was one of many events planned to celebrate Penn’s Year of Games. See if you can hear an audience member yell, “That […]

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Students! Discount Tickets Available for African Singer Oumou Sangaré with your Penncard

By: Josh

Well known African musician Oumou Sangaré performs LIVE at the Penn Museum Saturday November 12 at 8 pm. The Museum’s African Gallery and the “Imagine Africa with the Penn Museum” gallery project remain open from 6:00 pm to 7:45 pm. Tickets: $40 general admission, in advance and at the door.Students with Penncards, $20. For ticket information: […]

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The Daily Pennsylvanian explores the secrets of the Penn Museum

By: Josh

  In the days leading up to Halloween, Julie Xie of The Daily Pennsylvanian took a tour of the Penn Museum’s galleries and storage rooms with its senior archivist Alex Pezzati. “If a ghost exists, this is a great place for them” Read More.

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