Our Values

Located on the unceded ancestral homelands of the Kumeyaay Peoples, in San Diego’s Balboa Park, the Museum’s complex history and colonial roots mean that we have a responsibility to elevate community voices. Our mission, exhibitions, and initiatives are driven by our core values of equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and decolonization.

For a better understanding of our commitment to these values, read and download our full Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion (DEAI) Statement here and learn more about Decolonizing Initiatives at the Museum.

A person with a ponytail staring at wall of framed portraits.

A place for community voice

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

Protestors carrying rainbow flags in front of the Museum.

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 Hostile Terrain 94, Living with Animals, and PostSecret examine universal themes that connect humans across time and cultures.

A note handwritten on a green piece of paper titled "Happy Note." The handwritten note reads, "Seven billion people experienced today in a different way."

A place for immersive and interactive experiences

Our immersive exhibit experiences 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.

The Museum of Us "Living With Animals" exhibit entrance depicting an eclectic and colorful living room with a fake deer head mounted on the wall.