Penn's Museum builds on a 100-year tradition

It's quite a mouthful. The University Board of Trustees decided on the full name in 1994, but the Museum has evolved in form and name for over 100 years. Former Provost William Pepper and a group of Philadelphians started the museum in 1887. They organized and financed America's first archaeological expedition to the Near East, a dig at the ancient Sumerian city of Nippur in modern-day Iraq. The findings from this expedition were the basis for the original museum. They were housed at College Hall until 1890 and the Furness Library until 1899, when the collection was finally moved into its current space, built to house it. The city granted the Museum nine acres of land in 1895 to build a structure to house its expanding collection. The original plans of architect Wilson Eyre were grand in scale, including a design for a public park stretching from 34th Street to the Schuylkill River and from South Street to the Civic Center. Though this layout was never fully realized, Eyre's plans formed the basis for much of the building that stands today. Three of the four sections built over the years were part of his original design. The main, U-shaped building was built in 1899 around the reflecting pool in the upper courtyard's Warden Garden. The Harrison Rotunda, Coxe Wing and Sharpe Wing for administration were added in 1915, 1926 and 1929 respectively. These older sections of the museum are listed in the National Register of Historic Places for their distinguished architecture and embellishments, such as sculpture by Alexander Stirling Calder and mosaics by Tiffany & Co. of New York. The contemporary academic wing was built in 1971. The Museum makes up one of approximately 15 resource centers affiliated with and partially funded by the University. Penn provides the Museum with just under 50 percent of its funding. The rest of its operating budget comes from other revenue and grants from the government and from private sources such as the Presser Foundation, Pew Charitable Trust and the Chrysler Foundation. The Museum often depends on federal and private funds to support specific ventures and programs.