McClure Archives Museum Sample Tour
Current Exhibitions
Ritualistic and symbolic artifacts from Pre-Columbian times to be displayed in the upcoming exhibit "Art of the Ancient Americas" at the University of Central Missouri
The UCM McClure Archives and University Museum will showcase the 2026 exhibition entitled "Art of the Ancient Americas: Selected Works from the Nickl and Schmidt Collections," which opens January 19th and continues through March. The items on display include stone idols, expertly crafted silver and gold, intricately painted vessels, and skillfully woven textiles, all of which are derived from the indigenous populations of the Americas, encompassing Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, prior to the arrival of European explorers in the late 15th century. The art and architecture of the ancient Americas reveal civilizations of extraordinary vision, power, and imagination. Long before the first Europeans, societies across the hemisphere developed cultures in which art was not an ornament, but the very fabric of religious belief and political life. From temples that touched the sky to ceramics that spoke of cosmic myths, these works testify to humanity's desire to forge meaning, beauty, and spiritual bonds. These masterpieces from Mesoamerica and the Andean South are powerful reminders that art is one of humanity's greatest achievements, capable of shaping not only identity but also history itself.
Museum hours are from 8 am to 4 pm. Hope to see you there!
Copyright 2009 Masquerade Tribal Arts. All rights reserved. Reproduction or copying of images without express written permission is prohibited.
Click on photos to enlarge
