Established in 1887, the University Museum was the first anthropological museum on any American university campus and is one of the most renowned anthropology museums in the world. Known for its studies of ancient societies, the museum houses one of the largest archaeological and anthropological collections in the United States. A library, research facilities, and ongoing publishing projects are all centers of activity. The collections are exceptionally rich in Chinese, Near Eastern, Greek, African, Pacific, Egyptian, and South American artifacts.

The great Chinese Rotunda was added in 1912-1915, the Coxe Wing (housing the Egyptian collections) went up in 1926, and the Sharpe wing--designed to be the front door of the museum--was completed in 1929. The later work was designed by Charles Klauder, Day's former partner. The museum's large academic wing, accommodating the library and classrooms and offices for the anthropology department, was constructed in 1968-71 according to a design by Romaldo Giurgola and Ehrman Mitchell. The latest addition, the Mainwaring wing, is the work of Atkin, Olshin, Lawson-Bell and Associates.