What is DUMA?
The University of Denver Museum of Anthropology (DUMA) is dedicated to increasing knowledge and understanding of world cultures and human diversity. The Museum emphasizes the ethical stewardship of collections, research, teaching, educational programming and responsible community engagement. DUMA supports the Department of Anthropology's emphasis on applied and public anthropology in service to the common good.
The museum acknowledges that colonial legacies are embedded in anthropological collections. It strives to address historical wrongs by building collaborative, reciprocal relationships and respecting the rights and cultural protocol of communities represented in the collection.
January 29 - April 10, 2026
The Legacy of the Gift: Diné and Hopi Textiles from the Bequest of Daniel L. Ritchie (1932-2025)
Featuring Diné and Hopi textiles donated to the University of Denver Museum of Anthropology by Daniel L. Ritchie, 16th Chancellor of DU. The exhibit honors Ritchie’s deep spirit of giving and the enduring legacy of Southwestern Native American weaving traditions. Free and open to the public.
Student Involvement
DUMA provides a hands-on learning experience for students and works closely with the master's level Museum and Heritage Studies program in the Department of Anthropology. Alongside faculty and staff mentors, students conduct research and learn about the ethics of interpretation and stewardship. Students curate exhibits showcased in the museum’s gallery and display cases, and assist with projects related to collections care.
DUMA’s Work with Tribal Nations
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) provides a process for tribes to request the return of items from museums and federal agencies. Along with implementing NAGPRA at the museum, we are engaging with other practitioners to further repatriation work and foster stronger relationships across the field.
DUMA Exhibits
Our exhibits showcase student and faculty anthropology research, as well as collaborations with campus organizations and community partners. The museum’s gallery on the first floor of Sturm Hall and exhibit cases on the first and second floors house our physical exhibits, while virtual exhibits are archived online.
Explore Our ExhibitsDUMA Collections
Home to more than 100,000 unique ethnographic and archaeological artifacts, DUMA’s collections include Southwestern pottery, African and Native American textiles, masks from around the world, and remarkably well-preserved yucca fiber and animal hide footwear from cave sites in Colorado.
Access Our Collections
Explore all Galleries and Collections in the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
DUMA News
CAHSS Staff Interview: Anne Amati
Get to know NAGPRA Coordinator for the Department of Anthropology and Staff Committee President Anne Amati.
Faculty Explores Issues in Native American Communities
DU’s Anthropology Department welcomes new assistant professor and cultural anthropologist Kelly Fayard.
International Student Researches Colorado Internment Camp Museum
Regina Huang has done her thesis work on the Amache Museum, which holds the history of Colorado’s only Japanese American internment camp during World War II.
