Vist the Museum
Since our founding in 1919–a time when the Middle East was called the Orient—the OI has been a leading resaerch center for the study of ancient civilizations. With 350,000 artifacts, excavated mainly by OI archaeologists, the OI Museum invites you to learn about the beginnings of our lives as humans together. Through galleries devoted to Egypt, Nubia, Persia, Mesopotamia, Syria, Anatolia, and the Levant, come take a look into the ancient past. To learn more about our collections, browse the Museums and Galleries and Collections sections of this website. For more information including accessibility, browse the menu tabs.
*The museum elevator is currently undergoing maintenance, which impacts ADA accessibility to our restrooms and classroom spaces. This work is ongoing through March of 2023. ADA accessible bathrooms are available in the campus building across the sidewalk from the OI. We apologize for this inconvenience.
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Directions & Parking
No matter where you are coming from, we have directions to the Oriental Institute and can explain parking in and around the University of Chicago.
The Museum Shop
The Suq, our museum shop, has a wide variety of books about the ancient world and gifts from today’s Middle East.
