Hiding in Plain Sight

Apr. 14, 2026

By Katherine Blanchard

Some of the collection’s most compelling discoveries aren’t new—they’ve been waiting in storage. Near East Keeper Katherine Blanchard revisits artifacts catalogued over a century ago, uncovering meanings once overlooked.

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Mar. 31, 2026

By Quinn Russell Brown

Major League Archaeology

The Penn Museum welcomes Philadelphia Phillies legend Brad Lidge to our Board of Advisors. He calls it a “full-circle moment.”

Fieldwork

Aerial view of a large Yezidi crowd forming a dîlan (circular dance formation) in an open field during the Mîrzo Music Foundation's Yezidi New Year concerts and exhibitions in Şingal, with cars parked in the background

Mar. 16, 2026

By Marc Marin Webb

Stronger in the Circle

Singers preserve and share Yezidi culture by bringing scenes from historical photos from the Penn Museum Archives to life through sound.

Fieldwork

Brenda Mallory's "Parceled Space #2" (2025), a mixed-media wall sculpture combining deconstructed thread spools and red felt on a wood panel, by the Cherokee Nation artist

Feb. 11, 2026

By Quinn Russell Brown

New Art from Native Makers

Inside the Native North America Gallery, contemporary artworks star alongside the historic objects that inspired them.

Collections

Dec. 22, 2025

By Jessica Milby

Toy Stories

From finely crafted figures to colorful games, these playful objects are some of the most delightful surprises to pass through the Digitization Team’s workflow this year—and a reminder that play is universal.

Collections

a pair of hands insert silica gels into a museum display case

Dec. 09, 2025

By Jessica Byler

The Secret Life of Silica Gel

Many artifacts in the collection can deteriorate in the wrong environment. The same beads found in new shoe packets quietly protect sensitive material from damaging humidity.

Collections

Nov. 25, 2025

By Katherine Blanchard

From Clay Tablets to Cookie Dough

Bake your own Mesopotamian-inspired cuneiform cookies with Penn Museum baker Katy Blanchard’s beloved holiday recipe.

Collections