In May of 2023, the St. Joseph Museum had a devastating water pipe burst necessitating the rebuilding of an entire wing. With the Missouri Humanities Council funding we were able to create exhibits that explain the difference between Geology, Paleontology, and Archaeology. We were also able to explore the King Hill excavation and share what the archaeology of that site teaches us about what life was like for the prehistoric people who lived in the area. The wing also looks more broadly at United States and World Archaeology and cultures, and through a grant from Freedom’s Frontier, focuses on Native American pottery, beadwork, and basketmaking. The last area of the new wing asks visitors to ponder the “Museum of Us” posing the questions of how our technology is rapidly changing and what are we leaving for the archaeological record.
