Fall 2007 Exhibitions at Penn Museum

In addition to the Rivers of Gold exhibition noted earlier, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology will be featuring several other exhibitions this fall. Here are the details from a UPM press release.

Exploring Iran: The Photography of Erich F. Schmidt, 1930-1940
October 2 through December 9, 2007

In 1931, Penn Museum launched its first archaeological expedition to Iran, to excavate the Bronze Age site of Tepe Hissar. Erich F. Schmidt, a young German WWI veteran and archaeologist, led the expedition and documented it with nearly 2,600 photographs taken by himself and two professional photographers, Russian Boris Dubensky and Pole Stanislaw Niedzwiecki, over ten years. Their many images depict, not only the important Tepe Hissar excavation, but also the desert and mountain people Schmidt's team encountered along the way and the extraordinary landscapes of the region. Exploring Iran features 60 photographs selected from Schmidt's epic collection, complemented by a representative sampling of ancient artifacts, including painted pottery and bronze jewelry, from the Tepe Hissar excavations. 1st floor Merle-Smith Changing Exhibitions Gallery.

Lewis and Clark Revisited: A Trail in Modern Day
December 15, 2007 through February 10, 2008

In 1804, Merriweather Lewis and William Clark led an unprecedented overland expedition across North America and back, pioneering the western exploration and expansion of the United States. Two centuries later, photographer Greg MacGregor retraced their journey to see the present state of this historic route. This exhibition features 60 of MacGregor's dramatic black and white images chronicling the transformation of the American landscape. Paired with the images are entries from the Lewis and Clark journals, which MacGregor used to follow in their footsteps, and maps of the expedition trail. Lewis and Clark Revisited speaks to the legacy of the early explorers who opened up the American west to a young nation's imagination and settlement. At the same time, the exhibition provides a rich visual commentary on contemporary American life. 1st floor Merle-Smith Changing Exhibitions Gallery.


The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is located at 3260 South Street (on Penn's campus, across from Franklin Field), Philadelphia, PA 19104. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays, and holidays. Admission donation is $8 for adults; $5 for senior citizens and students with ID; free to Members, Penncard holders, and children under 6; free on the first Tuesday of each month. Penn Museum can be found on the web at www.museum.upenn.edu. For general information call 215/898-4000.