Dig It! Explore Archaeology is a hands-on exhibit that will delight visitors of all ages. Featured is a life-size replica of an excavated trench wall where hands-on elements demonstrate the science of archaeology. A photo-mural illustrates various aspects of archaeological field work. In other hands-on elements, you'll explore how archaeologists study clues from ancient and historic sites. Learn how these clues are used in identifying artifacts, such as ancient pottery, and create your own designs using interactive magnetic drawing slates. Build your own miniature Hohokam village or take a break and enjoy the museum's orientation video in the newly rennovated theater. Both children and adults will find this gallery entertaining, engaging, and educational... in fact, they'll "DIG IT!"

Explore objects from various areas of the Art Institute of Chicago’s permanent collection to enrich visitors' understanding of their content, style, and historical context. The collection includes sculpture, ceramics, metalwork, and textiles created by Native Americans, the inhabitants of Teotihuacan, and the Olmec, Maya, and Aztecs of ancient Mesoamerica — the geographical area comprising New Mexico, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and parts of Honduras and El Salvador. Includes lesson plans for the classroom, maps, glossary, books, and art projects for the home.

Pre-Columbian art from Mexico, Central and South America has been at the heart of the Bowers for many years. A series of galleries communicates the power and sophistication of the mysterious cultures that rose and fell in ancient America.

The Bowers Museum also offers the following Educational Activities for Schools (grades 3 & 4):

Pre-Columbian Art Tour
(History/Social Science content standards and Visual Arts Framework)
The series of five intimate galleries portray the rich art and culture of ancient Pre-Columbian civilizations. The exhibit details the emergence of Mesoamerican cities highlighting architecture, ritual art, the sacred ball game, funerary art, and hieroglyphic writing depicted in Mayan art. Various artifacts include the ceramics and stone carvings of the pre-Columbian Maya and Olmec peoples illustrating their sacred rituals.

Ancient Mesoamerican Art Classes
(Visual Arts Framework)
Clay Masks, Jaguar Masks, Tooled Foil Mythical Beasts, Clay Animals