Museum History
The Jones Archaeological Museum opened on May 16, 1939, at what was then known as the Mound State Monument, a property revived by the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1999, The University of Alabama Museums began a comprehensive effort to rebuild and redefine the museum, resulting in a $5 million renovation. The newly remodeled museum opened to the public in 2010.
Today, the museum features a varied collection that includes artifacts, reproductions, models, and wet specimens and taxidermy highlighting the Black Warrior River and its surrounding environment. The exhibits also include contemporary art from Muskogean-speaking descendant nations, connecting ancestral lifeways to living communities and ongoing cultural traditions.
Exhibits
Lost Realm of the Black Warrior
A permanent exhibition.
“Lost Realm of the Black Warrior” was the museum’s primary exhibition installed during the 2010 renovation. It featured more than 200 archaeological items, recreated scenes with life-like figures, and interpretive displays exploring Moundville’s past.
Since that time, many of the cultural items originally included in this exhibition have been returned to descendant communities in accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).
Today, remaining elements from this installation include descendant-informed cast plaster models and interpretive materials, as well as a display depicting a marriage between a Moundville groom and a bride from the Upper Mississippi River Valley.
Find upcoming events and exhibits on our events calendar.
Black Warrior River / Tvsca Iusa
A temporary exhibition.
The Black Warrior River exhibit explores how the river has shaped daily life for the people of Moundville and their descendants. On display are ecofacts such as mussel shells and fishing tools, wet specimens and taxidermy, historic photographs, hands-on touch elements, and contemporary Native artwork that connects ancestral knowledge to present-day perspectives.
Upcoming: ‘Pum vculvke enliketv tate’ “The home of our ancestors”
Opening August 24th, this exhibition features beautiful Muscogee and Seminole regalia across time, showcasing the stunning work of co-curator Jake Tiger, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and fellow artists and community members. Stay tuned for updates!
Past: Learning From the Ancestors: Historical Influences on Contemporary Native Art
A past exhibition.
Learning from the Ancestors: Historical Influences on Contemporary Native Art was a temporary exhibition on view from February 3 through May 31, 2025, at the Jones Archaeological Museum. Developed collaboratively with Native artists, University of Alabama faculty, students, and museum staff, the exhibit centered Indigenous perspectives by connecting ancestral traditions to contemporary artistic expression.
The exhibition featured 65 works by 36 Native artists representing eight Southeastern Tribal Nations, with artists primarily from Alabama, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
Learning from the Ancestors received the Gold Award in the Under $10,000 category from the Southeastern Museums Conference, recognizing its collaborative approach and commitment to centering Indigenous voices in museum practice.