Current Exhibits

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Opening spring 2026!

March 2 - May 8, 2026

Monday - Friday, 11 am - 5 pm

 

Reception: Thurs., March 5,  11 am - 2 pm

 

The museum's galleries in Meiklejohn Hall, room 4047 will be open for in-person exhibitions in 2026. We hope you have a chance to visit us on campus, but you can also enjoy watching past virtual panels and visiting our virtual museum. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to us via email.


Free admission & open to the public.


Location : Hayward Campus, Meiklejohn Hall, room 4047 & CORE Library

Gallery Closed:

  • March 30 - April 3, 2026 for spring break

Currently on Display

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  • From 8-bit beginnings to immersive worlds, discover how games captured our imagination.

    Step into the C. E. Smith Museum of Anthropology to dive into a dynamic exhibition that traces the groundbreaking journey of video game consoles from the 1970s to today. Visit the early days of wood-paneled consoles, 2-dimensional graphics, and the dawn of home gaming. Learn how pixel pioneers laid the foundation for an industry that would transform entertainment forever.

    See displays that celebrate iconic titles like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and Halo; discover the creativity powering your favorite games; and explore how game music evolved from catchy 8-bit tunes to sweeping orchestral scores. In our hands-on gaming zone, interactive displays let you become part of the story, revealing firsthand how gameplay mechanics, graphics, and technology have evolved.

    Whether you grew up with cartridges, discs, or digital downloads, this exhibition invites you to celebrate the innovation, artistry, and impact of video games.

    Press start to join the adventure!

    Location : Hayward Campus, Meiklejohn Hall 4047

     Dates: March 2- May 8, 2026 

  • 2024 Whiskey postcard ft

    Come visit the wild west, a world where American whiskey sparked a Mexican rebellion!

    The C. E. Smith Museum of Anthropology invites you to take a step back in time to when the Southwest was under Mexican control, its resources eyed greedily by settlers from the United States. As the U.S. expanded westward, the frontier quickly became a more complicated place. Local Mexican and Indigenous populations were faced with the prospect of sharing their scarce resources with American newcomers. One such easterner, a merchant named Simeon Turley, established a whiskey distillery in northern New Mexico, producing a ripple effect that would end in bloody rebellion. Visit our exhibit now to learn about daily life at Turley’s Mill and the Taos Rebellion of 1847 through artifacts, documents, and oral histories!

    Location : Hayward Campus, Meiklejohn Hall 4047

     

    Previous Dates:

    March 11- May 10, 2024, October 14 - December 13, 2024 &

    January 27 - May 9, 2025, September 29 - December 5, 2025

     

  • A gallery highlighting traditions and technologies of mud and mud-brick construction

    Adobe Traditions: The Art of Living with the Land

    Spring 2026 postcard front

    Across many cultures, adobe has shaped not only architecture and technology, but also spiritual and community life. Made from earth, water, and additives like straw; adobe manufacturing reflects a close relationship with the land. Beyond daily meals, families used adobe ovens in religious observances, seasonal ceremonies, and shared celebrations. Through regular use and careful maintenance, adobe ovens became the center of enduring spaces where daily work, tradition, and belief brought communities together.


    Location : Hayward Campus, Meiklejohn Hall 4047

     

     Dates: March 2- May 8, 2026 

     

     

Museum galleries are located on the fourth floor of Meiklejohn Hall, room 4047, at the southwest corner of Cal State East Bay's Hayward campus. During exhibitions, the museum is open Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please see the campus Parking & Alternative Transportation Services page for information about visiting the campus.