The Michigan State University Museum ushered in a new era on Jan. 14, reopening after undergoing its first major renovation in more than 75 years.
The museum was closed for 18 months, with exhibitions and events hosted in the MSU Federal Credit Union events space at 311 Abbot Road. Now, the museum celebrates its return to the heart of MSU’s campus, with renovations including flexible spaces, modernized restrooms and significant climate control upgrades. Approved by the MSU Board of Trustees in December 2023, these renovations were made possible, in part, by a generous multimillion-dollar gift from the Forest Akers Trust.
“The MSU Museum stands as a dynamic exemplar of how upgraded form can support upgraded function, enabling forward-thinking advances across the breadth and depth of the museum’s services and programming, “ said MSU Provost Laura Lee McIntyre. “The renovations will enable the museum to create innovative and impactful learning experiences at the intersection of the arts, sciences, cultures and technologies.”
“The MSU Museum is a cultural anchor for mid-Michigan” said MSU Trustee Rebecca Bahar-Cook. “ The renovation ensures the Museum can better serve diverse audiences with more accessible, inclusive, and engaging experiences.”
Opened in 1857, the MSU Museum is one of the university’s oldest institutions: its collection of over 1 million objects has been an integral part of teaching, research and learning at MSU since classes were first hosted on campus over 150 years ago.
Now, the curiosity and collaboration the MSU Museum fosters will take place in a modern environment that will continue to serve MSU faculty, staff, students and visitors from the community.
“The MSU Museum renovation is not simply about updating a building, it is about strengthening an interdisciplinary museum that advances teaching, research, and public engagement and recommitting to our responsibility as a public university to create spaces that support collaboration, discovery and dialogue,” said MSU Museum Director Devon Akmon.
Guests at the opening reception had the opportunity to think about how the MSU Museum will continue to evolve by filling out cards to be included in a time capsule that will be opened in 2057, the museum’s 200th anniversary year.
They also were able to explore the excitement of current events at the museum. In addition to new upgrades and the return of beloved exhibits like “Science on a Sphere,” the MSU Museum celebrated the opening of its new “Blurred Realities” exhibition, which is on view through July 18, 2026. “Blurred Realities” invites visitors to explore the complexities of misinformation, disinformation, bias and digital manipulation, forces that increasingly influence our perceptions, decision-making and democratic systems.
“At the MSU Museum, we are committed to creating spaces that help our community navigate the most pressing challenges of our time,” said Akmon. “‘Blurred Realities’ confronts the conditions shaping how truth circulates today, from AI-generated media to the unseen systems that fuel polarization and asks us to reflect on how we understand the world and each other.”
Read Akmon’s Conversation article about how museums can rebuild trust in a divided America.
