Howka! Hi! Hola! Kamusta! Nǐ hǎo!

It’s us, your new museum.

Formerly known as the San Diego Museum of Man, the Museum of Us is a new identity for a 100-plus-year-old institution, beloved by generations of San Diegans and tourists alike. Located here in Balboa Park, on the unceded ancestral homelands of the Kumeyaay people, our mission is to “inspire human connections by exploring the human experience.” We do that by sharing alternative narratives that challenge peoples’ assumptions and help them see the world from different perspectives.

Whether it’s showing how the power of secrets can make us feel less alone, to helping visitors better understand the science, history, and experience of race in our country; our exhibits and programs present diverse stories that help define all of us.

“Over the past 10 years, we’ve turned the very idea of a museum on its head, challenging assumptions every step of the way. We’ve discussed taboos, swapped our inner-most secrets, invited aerosol artists to make their mark on our walls, and even skated a half-pipe on our balcony, sharing beers under the rotunda all the while.”

– Micah Parzen, Chief Executive Officer

Read the press release here.

Image by Alexander Adams

Becoming “Us”

On View Now: Digital & Museum Installation

The Museum has a new name for a new era! Learn about how the Museum of Us came to be by exploring a timeline of the Museum’s evolution over the years. See the historic wooden sign that welcomed visitors for the past 50 years.

On view now in the Museum (open Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) or online via Google Arts & Culture.

View Timeline

Special thanks to the Janie DeCelles and the Hattie Ettinger Conservation Fund at The San Diego Foundation, whose financial support funded our name change installation and new sign.

Why change?

Words have power. Names are no different. Names hold memories, emotions, values, and legacy. After operating as the San Diego Museum of Man for over 40 years, it is time we step into a new identity that better reflects our work towards equity, inclusion, and decolonization.

Discussion about changing to a more inclusive name began in 1991 at the request of community members. For years, the gendered name of the Museum made many visitors feel excluded and unwelcome. Not only did the Museum’s old name support patriarchal systems, but it represented a colonial past that perpetuated racist narratives and harmed Indigenous communities.

Today, we are addressing our colonial legacy in a number of ways, including actively listening to the voices of San Diego community members, Indigenous Peoples nationally, and our national and international visitors. We believe that listening must lead to accountability, and accountability is bonded to action. So on June 24th, 2020, the Board of Trustees approved to change the “San Diego Museum of Man” to the “Museum of Us.” On August 2nd, 2020, we are excited to share this important moment in our organization’s history with the public.

The name change process took place over two-plus years, and was marked by extensive community involvement − including stakeholder meetings, surveys, and an interactive name change exhibit temporarily installed in the Museum’s rotunda. The final selection was driven by several factors, including a gender based equity perspective.

Learn More: Decolonizing Initiatives at the Museum of Us

What is the Museum of Us?

A place for the diverse stories that define us.

The Museum of Us is a place for many voices, not the traditional authoritative academic “museum voice” we are so accustomed to.

A place which finds the universal in the particular.

At their core, our offerings illustrate the intersection of our shared human experience. Exhibits such as BEERology, Living with Animals, and Cannibals: Myth and Reality delve into universal themes that cut across time and cultures.

A place for immersive and interactive experiences.

We use immersive exhibit experiences to create active and sensory-exciting encounters where people can be expressive about personal, cultural, and societal topics. Visitors are invited – and encouraged – to leave their mark on the Museum of Us by engaging with exhibit interactives that call for reflection and sharing.

Our new identity is one of many changes to our institution, both internally and externally, that flips the idea of a museum and reflects our new role in the community:

What Makes Us

To best serve our community, authentically reconcile with our past, and advance our field at large, we are dedicated to a core set of programmatic initiatives. This is what we do and what we stand for:

The Museum of Us will continue to evolve as a place, and in our work. The COVID-19 pandemic has already been a catalyst for significant structural change. We have had to greatly reduce our team and recalibrate operations. But, we will rebuild in a manner that is characterized by equity and financial sustainability.

“Maya Angelou once said, ‘When you know better, you do better.’ We have learned so much as an institution over the past 105 years. We know better now, so we are doing better. Every day is a learning opportunity, and—as is often the case—our mistakes are our greatest teachers. We must not be afraid to make, and learn from them, together. As we continue to know better, we will do better still.

That is our commitment to you.”

– Micah Parzen, Chief Executive Officer 

Get Involved with Us

In the months ahead, there will be many opportunities to get involved and leave your mark on the Museum of Us. We invite you to join us as we share, question, listen, and learn – together. Regardless of where you are in the world, there is room for you here to inspire human connections and drive positive change in your community – both locally and globally.

Past Updates: