The building was designed by post-modern architect Michael Graves and features a signature rotunda.
The collection includes a significant assemblage of ancient Andean textiles known for their preservation due to the arid desert climate.
The museum holds an extensive collection of ancient coins from various Mediterranean cultures.
It is home to a notable collection of works by contemporary Tibetan artists alongside ancient Buddhist artifacts.
The museum participates in regular archaeological field schools, allowing students to contribute to the collection's research.
The collection of Egyptian funerary art includes mummies acquired by earlier explorers and researchers in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Michael C. Carlos Museum, located on the Emory University campus, houses one of the most comprehensive collections of ancient art in the southeastern United States. The permanent collection includes extensive holdings of Egyptian, Near Eastern, Greek, Roman, and pre-Columbian artifacts. A significant portion of the museum focuses on Egyptian antiquities, including well-preserved mummies and funerary objects. The facility is housed in a building designed by architect Michael Graves, opened in 1993. The museum functions as a center for research, conservation, and archaeological study for both Emory faculty and the public. Visitors can view various works ranging from oil lamps and pottery to monumental stone sculpture. Its exhibits provide a chronological look at civilizations spanning thousands of years across Africa, the Americas, and the Mediterranean. The museum actively participates in archaeological excavations, often displaying recent findings.
The interior rotunda and the grand staircase offer the most distinctive architectural views.
Check the online calendar for faculty-led lectures or gallery talks that occur frequently throughout the academic semester.
Utilize the museum’s audio guide app, which provides deeper historical context for major artifacts in the permanent collection.
Focus on the Egyptian wing, as it is often considered the highlight of the museum's holdings.
Do not attempt to park in restricted university permit zones; use the designated visitor parking deck nearby.
Typically closed on major holidays and Mondays.
Maintain a quiet volume, do not touch artifacts, and ensure flash photography is disabled.
