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Explore Global Cultures

Discover North Carolina’s only museum dedicated to the study of global cultures. Explore stories of humanity, from ancient archaeological sites to the celebrations and struggles of today. Learn about people from around the world through their everyday objects, ceremonial artifacts, and visual arts.

Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00am to 4:30pm. Admission is free.

Featured Exhibits

Exhibit gallery

Home
Through April 14, 2025

east Asian textiles on exhibit

Poems Made to Wear: Traditional Colors in East Asia
Through August 16, 2025

See All Exhibits

Upcoming Events

student holding an artifact

The Archaeology of Black Life at James Madison’s Montpelier

NEW DATE February 24, 6pm

The Significance of Holi

March 4, 6pm

Celebrate East Asia Open House

April 12, 1-4pm

Recent News Stories

Internships Benefit Students and MuseumJanuary 24, 2025
Bring Them Home / Aiskótáhkapiyaaya Film Screening to Celebrate Indigenous Peoples DayOctober 7, 2024
The Lam on LoanSeptember 9, 2024

See All News Stories

Explore the Collection with the Artifact of the Month

Bamana Door LockFebruary 3, 2025
Chinese Silk SheetJanuary 9, 2025
Baule Fly WhiskDecember 2, 2024

See All Artifact of the Month

Find a Craft Activity with Cultures Up Close

See All Cultures Up Close

Stay in Touch

Receive updates on exhibits and events from the Lam Museum

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Feb 19

The Museum will be closed today, Wednesday, February 19, due to winter weather. We will provide additional updates about our reopening as they are available.

Feb 18

Out of an abundance of caution regarding the lasting effects of tomorrow's forecasted winter weather, we have postponed Dr. Brock's lecture to next Monday, February 24, at 6:00pm. We hope to see you there!

#lammuseum #blackhistory #archaeology

Feb 18

59 objects, 40 cultures, 27 countries, thousands of years. "Museum of World Cultures: Highlights from the UNC-Wilmington Collection" is now open!

#lammuseum #wakethearts #anthropology #worldculture #thingstodoinwsnc #free

Feb 12

We're putting the final touches on our latest exhibit! "Museum of World Cultures: Highlights from the UNC-Wilmington Collection" opens next Tuesday with showpieces from this recently-acquired collection spanning cultures, continents, and centuries.

#lammuseum #wakethearts #anthropology

Feb 10

Mark your calendar for next week's lecture! We're excited to host Dr. Terry Brock at the Museum to talk about his archaeological research at James Madison's Montpelier. Check the link in our bio for full details.

#lammuseum #archaeology #blackhistory

Feb 3

It's time for our February #ArtifactOfTheMonth! This early 20th century Bamana door lock is likely from the area surrounding Bamako, the capital of #Mali, in the southwest part of the country. Traditionally, door locks like this one were used to protect houses and granaries. The lock mechanism works with metal pins that drop into holes in the sliding bolt when correctly aligned. The figurative locks are attached to undecorated house doors with iron fasteners. #Bamana men of the blacksmith/sculptor class, who inherit their position in society, carve the door locks from the wood of the toro tree and fit them with the necessary iron pieces.

This type of door lock provides both physical security and spiritual protection from supernatural forces, particularly for women and children at home. Bamana door locks can take many forms with the central figure representing totemic animals, ancestor figures, or other mythological subjects to protect the inhabitants. On this lock, the central female figure symbolizes Komo, a guardian spirit believed to hear every sound, as shown by her long ears. This figure also connects to the powerful Komo secret society, which promotes the general wellbeing of the community and protects it from harm. Additional symbolism can be found in the perpendicular bolts, which are shaped like crocodiles, representing vigilance and strength.

This door lock is on display in our exhibit "Home" through April 12, 2025.

#lammuseum #wakethearts

Jan 29

Welcome to the Year of the Snake! 🐍 Learn about how the Lunar New Year is celebrated in China with our Teacher's Guide via the link in our bio.

#lammuseum #lunarnewyear #chinesenewyear #yearofthesnake

Jan 24

Tomorrow is the last day to see our pair of African exhibits, "All the King's Men: Status and Power in Africa" and "Beyond Drumming: African Musical Instruments," before they close. Don't miss your chance to see these fabulous African objects!

#lammuseum #AfricanArt #wsnc #free

Jan 22

We have a new exhibit! Curated by first year WFU students, "Home" explores the many ways in which the concept of "home" is constructed across cultures. The exhibit will be on display through April 12.

#lammuseum #wakethearts #thingstodoinwsnc #wsnc

Jan 17

The Museum will be closed Saturday through Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We encourage you to explore events happening around down in celebration of Dr. King.

Jan 10

The Museum will close today at 2pm and will be closed tomorrow, January 11, due to winter weather. Stay safe, everyone!

Jan 9

And, we're back! Our January #ArtifactOfTheMonth is a Chinese silk sheet from the late 19th or early 20th century that was likely given as a wedding gift.

Since the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE), red has been considered an auspicious and important color associated with ceremony and status in #China. As such, #red is the principal color associated with important life events such as marriage and the birth of a child.

Red is traditionally featured in Chinese weddings with the bride wearing red, red candles, envelopes, lanterns, and other decorations. While red is a symbol of happy events, wealth, and auspiciousness, it is also the symbol of fire. The physical warmth of fire is a metaphor for the intensity of emotion felt wherever red is used.

This sheet is embroidered with a dragon and phoenix, symbolizing the groom and bride, and a perfect balance of yin and yang. The dragon represents the groom showing power and strength, while the grace and beauty of the phoenix represents the bride. Together, they symbolize love, happiness, and a harmonious union. In Chinese mythology, the dragon and phoenix are celestial beings who fall in love creating good fortune, prosperity, and a harmonious world. This symbolism is often featured during weddings through embroidered designs on the couples’ clothing and in decorations or gifts.

The dragon and phoenix are not the only symbolic animals on this silk sheet. They are surrounded by bats, a visual pun meaning good luck, as the Chinese word for bat, fu, is a homophone with the word for fortune.

You can see this sheet in person in the exhibit Poems Made to Wear: Traditional Colors in East Asia through August 16, 2025.

#lammuseum #wedding #chinese #dragon #chinesedragon

Dec 6

That's a wrap on 2024 for the Museum! We will be closed through January 5 for Winter Break. We can't wait to see you in the new year!

#lammuseum #winterbreak

Dec 3

Did you know that the funding for our exhibits comes almost exclusively from our members? This #GivingTuesday, we hope you’ll consider a Lam Museum membership. We literally can’t do this without you! Visit the link in our bio to join today.

#lammuseum

Dec 2

Our December #ArtifactOfTheMonth is a Baule fly whisk from the Ivory Coast. It is currently on display in "All the King's Men: Status and Power in Africa." It was purchased by former Lam Museum curator Beverlye Hancock during a trip to the Ivory Coast in 1997. The fly whisk is a traditional symbol of authority that reflects both the power and wealth of its bearer. It is typically carried by a Baule leader, particularly during large public events. On this whisk, the elephant finial represents political power. The gold leaf covering on the carved wood handle displays important connections to the local gold trade. Gold is also associated with ancestors, from whom leaders derive their authority to rule. Additionally, the horsehair whisk indicates the wealth of the ruler as horses are difficult and expensive to keep in the Ivory Coast due to local pests.

This fly whisk is the subject of the Museum’s 2024 Conservation Fund campaign, and we request your financial assistance to have it professionally conserved. The gold leaf is flaking off in several areas, making it extremely fragile to handle. In order to use the fly whisk in teaching following its removal from exhibition in January, it must be conserved. The missing patches of gold leaf need to be filled in, and the existing leaf needs to be stabilized to prevent any additional losses. The help of supporters like you is essential to completing the conservation of this important artifact! Learn more about the Conservation Fund and contribute today via the link in our bio.

#lammuseum #flywhisk #Baule #ivorycoast #cotedivoire #conservation

Nov 26

We will be closed tomorrow through Sunday for Thanksgiving. Hope you all have a happy Turkey Day, and we'll see you next week! 🦃

Nov 19

Did you know that NC has the 9th highest American Indian population in the country with more than 226,000 people? NC has 8 recognized tribes and 4 urban Indian organizations. Check out the map to see which counties these tribes call home today.

#NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #americanindianheritagemonth #northcarolina

Nov 14

Did you know that the Museum has objects on display at @zsrlibrary? We are currently showcasing historic American Indian beadwork from the Great Plains - a perfect quick stop to learn something during #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth!

#americanindian #americanindianheritagemonth #greatplains #beadwork

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