Michael C. Carlos Museum

Art museum · Clifton Community

Michael C. Carlos Museum

Art museum · Clifton Community

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571 South Kilgo Cir NE 3rd floor, Atlanta, GA 30322

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Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by Photo by Caroline Eubanks
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null
Michael C. Carlos Museum by null

Highlights

Nestled on Emory’s gorgeous campus, the Carlos Museum is a compact gem boasting stunning ancient Egyptian mummies, Greek & Roman art, and global antiquities.  

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571 South Kilgo Cir NE 3rd floor, Atlanta, GA 30322 Get directions

carlos.emory.edu
@carlosmuseum

Information

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571 South Kilgo Cir NE 3rd floor, Atlanta, GA 30322 Get directions

+1 404 727 4282
carlos.emory.edu
@carlosmuseum
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@carlosmuseum

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Aug 1, 2025

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"Atlanta's Impressive Collection of Egyptian Artifacts In 1876, a small museum collection was started in Oxford, Ga., at the original Emory University campus. Over the years—through acquisitions, archaeological digs, and donations—the collection has grown to include pieces from ancient Greece , Meso-America, Rome , and Africa. But what makes the Carlos so impressive is the collection of Egyptian mummies and sarcophagi. The Carlos, now located in Decatur, also hosts traveling exhibitions of art and artifacts."

Atlanta's Lesser-Known Museums
View Postcard for Michael C. Carlos Museum

Margaret Ray

Google
Located at Emory University in Atlanta, is a hidden gem for art and history enthusiasts. Its diverse collection spans ancient artifacts from Egypt, Greece, and Rome, making it a fascinating journey through time. The museum's layout is inviting, allowing visitors to easily navigate through its exhibits. Highlights include stunning mummies and intricate pottery that tell stories of past civilizations. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, often eager to share insights about the pieces on display. Overall, it’s a rewarding experience that combines education with a sense of wonder, perfect for families, students, and anyone curious about history!

REALtalk Renata TV

Google
Love this place!!!! I don't care how many times I come, it is still so interesting! The architecture around this area is astonishing! My favorite part is the mummies and the Greek/Roman exhibit! Y'all have to check it out for yourselves!

Justin Villa

Google
Lots of amazing unique pieces of history. Best university museum I've been to. Parking is expensive and the gift shop staff (older guy) could have been more friendly.

Jack Curtis

Google
Incredible museum that seems to fly under the radar in Atlanta. I mean come on, there are actual mummies in here! It was just amazing at every turn. Ancient art and tools from all over the world and it’s so cheap and interesting architecturally itself.

Simon Robson

Google
Another gem of the area. This museum specializes in ancient artifacts from all over the world. Displays and facilities are first class from personal items and statues to Egyptian mummies. Nicely laid out and easy to follow. Size is great for a 2-4 hour visit depending on how much reading you do. Audio tours are available. Admission at around $8 is great. Parking is a short walk in the parking structure.

Jonathan Lee

Google
This wonderful museum is located right on Emory University’s campus. It had lots of unique, stylish exhibits to intrigue many different interests. One of the highlights was their expansive Egyptian section. Head over to the Michael C. Carlos Museum for a look into some beautiful, historic pieces!

GSTonyTseng

Google
I forgot the exact ticket price, but for those who are fond of Egyptian culture, a visit to this museum is highly recommended. It's quite fascinating! The Sleeping Mummy exhibit is truly spectacular! 🖤 Its presence is both mesmerizing and awe-inspiring, leaving a lasting impression of ancient history and mystery.

Mary Elizabeth Enrile

Google
Had a chance to take a trip to Micheal C. Carlos Museum by Gwinnett & Marta Transit with a Gwinnett Library pass. The museum is located within Emory University. Two level museum with interesting artifacts from all over the world. I had two hours before closing to tour the whole entire place and was well worth it.
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Keesha F.

Yelp
Beautiful museum that had a nice variety of exhibits! I was in awe by their mummy exhibit! I've seen quite a few Egyptian exhibits but never have i seen one with such an extensive view of the mummy process nor have I gotten up close visuals! I was both spooked and in awe lol! I'd recommend checking this museum out if you're in the area. It is relatively small and takes roughly an hour and some change to get through but is very much worth the trip!
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Andrea H.

Yelp
What a splendid experience, rich with cultural dynamic variations of history and art throughout the 3 floors of station. I deeply loved the mix of information posted, the links for tech friendly review and bilingual variations of the new exhibit floor 3. If you are a college student you show ID for free admission; adults are $10. Right in the heart of a beautiful campus you'll find this quaint and delightful museum. So happy I stopped by!
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Sima R.

Yelp
Amazing history displayed in such a serene and beautiful atmosphere. I highly recommend taking your family to this museum full of wonderful culture.
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Georgia B.

Yelp
570 #12/2023 WELL curated funerary art of ancient cultures of Americans, Egyptians and Greeks and Romans. This is a small museum but very well put together. It's just 3 floors filled with interesting collections. 1st floor is Greek and Roman on one side and PreColumbian Americas on the other. Tiny compared to the British Museum and Rome, it's a thoughtful collection. There's a sarcophagus, mosaics, pottery and sculptures that reminded of those I've seen in Europe. The PreColumbian collection is mostly from Central and S. American but does have little American Southwestern and Aztec. There's also Thomas Dorsey's black and white photo exhibit of Chicago that seemed out of place. The 2nd floor is Ancient Egyptian and Nubian (modern day Syrian) with several mummies and 3500 years of civilization. Apparently the Egyptians had 300 dynasties! They also mummified some animals. The most interesting artifact is the Old Kingdom mummy laying on his/her side. Learned that supine mummies that we typically see didn't appear until the late Kingdom period! The 3rd floor is East Indian and African art and Senusret exhibit of Ancient Egyptian art. You could easily do MCM in an hour or spend a whole day here. I spent about 2.5 hours covering everything I wanted to see. Like most museums, MCM is self guided. They do offer group tours that you can book ahead. Their audio guides were out of commission when I visited. The price is $8pp. They offer discounts for seniors and children. Free to Emory students, faculty and college students with valid ID. Parking is paid $4-$25 decks nearby. Free weekends. Fishburne Deck is the closest. Overall, MCM is a fantastic little museum that is worth a visit! Displays were divided into smaller rooms for more intimate viewing experience and not to overwhelm the sensory. PSA*. Best to visit on weekends when parking is free and students are off campus. ;)
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John B.

Yelp
Housed in Emory University, this has a fairly non-college vibe. When I visited, they had some parts of the museum closed (they said partly due to staffing shortages?). They did not charge me the entry fee and gave me what I think is meant to be a ticket to come back as an apology. I wouldn't have minded paying for the museum, however, as it was quite impressive. What was open was a striking collection of Mesoamerican art and an extensive Egyptian collection (minus a mummified pharaoh that they apparently repatriated to Egypt, so good on them), with some smaller regional collections. It was all historical; anything contemporary they have wasn't available to me. The presentation of pieces was aesthetically pleasing and the museum was light on narrative, with minimal captions allowing the objects to speak for themselves. I would happily return to see the other parts of the museum that were closed off, though I doubt they're better than what I saw.
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Tanni D.

Yelp
I was very impressed with the Michael C. Carlos Museum. During a tour of Emory University, my partner mentioned the museum. We each paid $8 to enter, and the space was relatively empty on a Saturday afternoon. The museum has a vast collection of artwork, sculptures, and exhibits from several regions, including Rome, Egypt, and South America. I was fascinated by a lot of the artifacts. The rooms dedicated to Hinduism and real Egyptian mummies especially peaked my interest. I personally thought the museum was amazing, and it holds so much knowledge and information that it's a great educational opportunity for those seeking to learn more about different cultures.
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Barb O.

Yelp
This museum may look impressive, but most visitors do not realize that a large number of artifacts from the 1980s to the 2000s were purchased from looters of antiquities and on the black market. For example, most artifacts that should be returned to Greece or Italy have yet to be returned. Also, many artifacts must be labeled correctly, especially in Egyptian galleries. They are still wrong. In much of the MesoAmerica Gallery, the labels do not list any Provenance (Where did they come from and who found them ?) If you come as a group, you have one hour in the museum for your tour. Period. If you arrive late, your tour could take up to 45 minutes or less.
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Connie C.

Yelp
Remarkable art exhibits! The Egyptian mummy, South American and Roman artifacts were very interesting. Great look in the windows of the past.
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Adeola W.

Yelp
June 2022* S U M M A R Y We came on a Sunday to see a new exhibit using Indigo and canvas. That was intriguing but I often found myself squealing in excitement when I came across a coffin or mummy. A R T I F A C T S It's a world museum, so the sections were pretty much divided by continent. We didn't visit all the areas but there was a lot of sculptures, paintings and artifacts. What blew me away was this Greek coffin that was still dripping excretions from the body! Omggg how cool! You could see the blood stained on the coffin. The security guard told me that sometimes it's on the floor. That's dope. I also loved the mummies. They were mainly all out of their coffins and in various positions. One was even leaning as if he was at a picnic on a nice spring day. I learned a lot about mummies here. The Africa section was tiny but I appreciated how the digitalized the information and included various media like sounds and maps. A M B I E N C E Just like any other museum. Clean. Comfortable temperature. P R I C E Free on this particular day R A T I N G Nothing big to improve on besides the cleanliness of the restrooms. A reno of those would be nice as well.
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Kai D.

Yelp
This was my first time coming to this museum and I must say I was blown away from how many pieces, artifacts and I can not forget about the real mummies! They have a lot of information about each unique sculpture from way back before Christ from around the world! This is an world class international museum and I really hope the Emory students take advantage of coming in to appreciate this museum. And I must scream exhibit had a lot of energy and I want to come back to study and immersed myself into each collection. I appreciate all the artists that took his or her time to make this all come together.
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Etheromis O.

Yelp
The Michael C Carlos Museum is an amazing venue to see historical artifacts from around the globe. I was amazed by the ancient art work and sculptures. This is a must see if your visiting the Atlanta area with kids or if you are interested in learning about different cultures and heritages. I would highly recommend visiting.
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Helene S.

Yelp
Unbelievable Museum on Emory Campus Lucky Emory undergrads can study art from mummies to Greek and Roman art and pre-Columbian artifacts at the world class Carlos Museum. Take a trip to where the coeds go to view an amazing collection just off the Coca-Cola quad.
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Andrea M.

Yelp
I was quite surprised at this place. Thinking it might be shabby or super small since it is linked to Emory, I was blown away by the details and variety of exhibitions. The two levels displayed worked from the Americas, Greek, Egyptian, to African works. I particularly loved the individual labeling of each item versus just a plaque with a generalization. It was neat to be able to identify what is what. The significant other and I loved the Egyptian exhibit the most, particularly bc of of the mummies. There were some mummified animals too so that was super neat. If you look on their Website, there are certain Sundays where you can gain admissions for free. It will save you like $8. lol.
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Lisa H.

Yelp
The Carlos Museum on Emory's campus may not spring to mind when you consider the museums of Atlanta, but it's definitely worth checking out for a dose of culture. Too many years had lapsed since my last visit the Carlos. I took the opportunity to revisit when the traveling exhibit Divine Felines: Cats of Ancient Egypt was in town from the Brooklyn Museum. Highly recommended since there was a wide array of artifacts not just of the cat variety, and there was even a canine section for dog lovers. The Carlos is well-known for their Egyptian collection in general, and you can explore their many global treasures spread across two floors. Do not try to linger after the posted closing times; the Carlos Museum isn't one of those places where they just lock the doors and let people finish up their visit at their leisure. They want you out ASAP. The staffers were eh. The ticket lady didn't crack a smile and looked down to continue to fill out a form as we asked additional questions. The fellow checking tickets and making sure we didn't take pictures in the exhibit didn't know when the bookstore/gift shop closed. The man running the shop was actually the best of the bunch since he was knowledgeable but he was very antsy to get out of there. Admission for adults is $8, and I know my local library has passes you can borrow. The Carlos Museum also has some free days; visit their website for more information. I recommend going on weekends when many Emory parking decks are open and free. Fun facts: -The museum is named after philanthropic Atlanta businessman Michael C. Carlos. As far as I can tell, he did not work at Coca-Cola. -The building was designed by noted architect Michael Graves. Lots of Michaels.
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Tari O.

Yelp
The Carlos museum is a private collection located on Emory's campus in the green. The venue is also available for events. I attended the museum for a work conference for approximately 100 people. There is a great setup for any sort of event and catering can easily be setup inside the main room which sits at the top of the museum.
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Steven D.

Yelp
I walk around campus here for the Pokestops and finally noticed this museum. We planned to go during one of the free days since I'm a patient dude and I'm not a museum fanatic. It was definitely worth the price of admission. I read about 1/10 of the plaques and rarely listen to audios. I lack culture. We spent maybe two hours here though slowly walking to each display case and picking out our favorite item. The mummies were pretty cool. The rotating exhibit upstairs was kind of forgettable. I saw some people doing a scavenger hunt. I could've put more effort and made it into a fun date with the significant other but I was tired. Pros Great price at $8. Amazing price at free. Cons The second floor was not as interesting to me. Would I come here again? Probably. Mummies! I could stare at those dead bodies all day.
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Cosmiclady L.

Yelp
The museum Was more than I expected. It was very educational occasional and you just felt the presence of ancestors.. It was a great experience great experience I would recommend anybody to come.
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Erica G.

Yelp
Although I have been here several times, I have never finished it all! I love this museum particularly, because I was that kid reading all the backlog of National Geographics. In my opinion, this museum is a great place to spend the day. Everytime I return to this museum I learn something new & exciting. On the most recent visit, thanks to the audio tour, I found out their mummies are actually real! Parking is free on the weekends in the Oxford Road parking deck (sometimes called the Oxford Road Visitor's Deck). You must pay to park: Monday- Friday 7a-7p. Also, this parking deck is only a short walk from the museum's entrance. Adult admission is $8, but on certain days it's free, so check this link for details: http://carlos.emory.edu/sites/default/files/shared-files/100freedaysupdate2017.pdf If you do go on a free day, at least donate a couple bucks! Free days do get very busy, so if you're like me & enjoy a quiet museum, it might be worth the normal admission fee. Visit their website for a list of admission prices: http://carlos.emory.edu/visit/hours-admission On my most recent trip, I bought entrance & an audio tour for two from Scoutmob for $10. I am so happy I did. I learned more details about the exhibits in the first hour with the audio tour than the past visits combined. The audio tour is loaded onto an iPhone 6 & includes extra features- this is not a walkman with a cassette tape. There's videos & behind the scenes features! I'm a language fanatic so hearing the correct pronunciation of names & places, instead of sounding it out in my head, makes me happy. One video feature shows curators restoring the integrity of a mummy, another shows how the Hindu God Ganesh is worshipped. The audio tour is usually $2, which is totally worth it. You have the option of using your own headphones or they will provide headphones for you. At the time I visited, they had Greek & Roman, Egypt, Nubian & the near east, Asian, African & ancient American art in their permanent collection. If you can't make it to the location, you can see high quality photos through this site: http://www.digitalgallery.emory.edu/luna/servlet/view/all?sort=Classification%2CCountry%2CCulture%2CAccession_Number which if you're like me, maybe your only chance to ever get your fill of the beautiful works in this world class museum.
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Natasha D.

Yelp
I'm a little ashamed to admit as a proud alum that I have not visited the Michael C. Carlos Museum previously. I had the opportunity on a recent visit to Atlanta and to the Emory campus and almost kicked myself for not taking advantage of this as an undergraduate student! Not only is there lots to see in the way of art but there's also a cafe and cool gift shop. My favorites were the mummies and the exhibition in the rotating exhibition space. I recently became a member and the staff does a great job communicating the vast array of educational programs they offer. Consider attending and supporting this museum!
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Cherise J.

Yelp
Very nice museum but I don't suggest it for school tours during rainy or cold weather. Due to a communication breakdown among members of their staff, the museum did not accommodate our students in providing a space for them to eat lunch. We were told to go to the 3rd floor and when we got there, our children were turned away. It was cold, wet and rainy and the staff suggested that our babies eat outside. They ended up eating on the bus. You spend a considerable amount of time in this museum so it's not out of the ordinary for children to eat lunch on site. To make the museum fully conducive to students (especially the younger ones), the staff should work together to provide indoor space for children to eat lunch. In the event of inclement weather, this should be a priority. Although I'm the first to report this issue via social media, it's not new. Other schools have had this problem. However the previous staff was a bit more accommodating, which made the difference in the overall experience.
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Ava S.

Yelp
I really liked the Carlos Museum! The Greek sculptures were very cool to see and it was interesting to read about all the different Greek stories associated with the art. Although I went with a big group, there was lots of space in the museum and it never felt crowded. I would love to go again!
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Mick D.

Yelp
If you haven't been, you're missing out. The Carlos Museum really is a world class facility. An Atlanta gem. I went to visit the Masterworks of American Indian Art exhibit and had my mind blown by what I was seeing that day. This whole museum is epic! The permanent exhibits include ancient Egyptian artifacts (and real mummies), and fascinating Greek & Roman pottery and one of the earliest bathtubs in the world. (Yes, I said bathtub.) And some very cool, intriguing, ancient artworks from Asia and The Americas. One imagines just who it was who made that thing... It's like taking a quick trip around the ancient world. The Carlos gives you glimpses into deep slices of human history, expression, and creativity. We were lucky enough to run into the docent of the Indigenous Beauty collection. She very graciously took a little time to talk to us about what we were seeing. This very much enhanced the experience. (My mind boggled at some of the older beadworks made from porcupine quills and other dyed materials. Real art-enginnering at work, there.) Just fantastic. Admission was a very nice $8. This is a total steal for the experience of this museum. Parking is just a short walk away in Emory's Fishburne parking deck. (I don't know what parking fees are, if any. I hear parking is free on weekends.) A couple of groups were also in the exhibit space with us, but at no point did we feel crowded or rushed. I'm looking forward to my next trip to the Carlos Museum. Holler if you're coming with.
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Dan W.

Yelp
Hidden gem in Atlanta. Great place to spend a few hours for a reasonable price. Really I could spend all day there, but I am a history and archaeology buff. Great collections of Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Meso American artifacts. Highly recommended.
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Bev R.

Yelp
Great little museum well worth the $8 per adult and $6 child. I have seen deals on groupon and living social for less but this was an impromptu visit Not the easiest to find on Emory's gorgeous campus and parking during the day during the week is a challenge in the lots but worth it. Parking was $5 for the roughly 2 hours we spent there but is FREE on the weekends. Features Mahan, early American Indian, Roman, Greek and my sons favorite Egyptian artifacts. He is in 6TH grade and loved it! Pottery and sculptures abound. Jewelry, tools large Greek and Roman statues, a bathtub, sarcophagus. But the highlight by far was the mummies. They had about 6 plus mummified cats,bird,dog. It was very beautiful and interesting. Seeing large elaborate pottery from 380 bc here in Georgia is amazing. Only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is I wish it was larger and easier to access.
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Yulia L.

Yelp
COME on a FREE ADMISSION DAY AND FREE PARKING DAY! Seriously, check their website. They do a monthly free day and every Sunday the parking deck is also free. Although admission is also extremely reasonable ($8) it's always nice to save a little, and that's what happened when I came here and was told today is that day. Sweet! One of the best museums I've ever been to on the gorgeous Emory University. I was surprised at how vast the Egyptian and Greek galleries were. There truly is a lot of stuff and you can easily spend several hours here reading all the information next to the artifacts. They allow you to take photos in all rooms except the 'red room' and they will let you know upon entry. There is Ancient Greek, Egypt, Middle America and some 'red room' with old movie film posters. Don't really see a point in having a whole separate gallery for old movie pics/posters. It's slightly interesting but the least interesting one in my opinion. Let's be honest here: we came to see mummies. We came to see the actual currency used in Cleopatra's time. And it does not disappoint. I was completely blown away. Incredible museum and I can't believe I lived my whole life in Atlanta without coming here. Definitely underrated.
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Tuong Vi P.

Yelp
Tucked in the beautiful Emory University campus in Decatur is an unassuming, yet impressive museum. Perhaps it's the university affiliation or it's the location, but for one reason or another, the Michael C. Carlos Museum isn't as popular as it ought be. While admission is very inexpensive for the experience you get, if you have any doubts about the amazement you'll feel viewing what may be the largest ancient arts collections (thanks for this tidbit, Wikipedia)--with Egyptian, Nubian, Near Eastern, Greek, Roman, North and South American, Asian, and African pieces--take advantage of the 100 days of free admission, which started last year and run through 2019. The Museum is offering such a generous offer ahead of its 100th anniversary in two years' time. I've visited this museum at least 3 times and every time, it is a treat. The gift/book shop has a varied selection and offers tons of books that could be of interest to the reader in your life (who could very well be yourself) and gifts for enthusiasts and learners of different artistic persuasions. If you are looking for an afternoon of fun, stop by. Check the hours of operation, just to ensure you don't show up and the Museum is closed (which it is on Mondays and University holidays). If the weather is nice, you should take a stroll around the beautiful campus and maybe grab a bite to eat at nearby Emory Point (where you'll find close to a dozen different restaurants) or Emory Village (which boasts both local and national chain businesses). I believe Mick D. is correct about free weekend parking, which is another bonus. The deck is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the door to a cultural experience needing just a couple hours of your time. Once our little booger is old enough to understand that not all places are right for shrill screaming, you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be toting him along. With AT, of course. [#Yelp365: 8/365]
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Toni G.

Yelp
A beautiful space for a lovely museum. We enjoyed our few hours there. Great exhibition and friendly employees.
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Kelli C.

Yelp
Such a hidden gem in Atlanta!! Took my dad here when he was in town. It is nestled in the beautiful Emory campus and a great place to walk to if the weather allows. The parking is located nearby and free on Sundays. We received an informative tour from their docent. They have so many amazing artifacts from around the world, especially within their Greek and Egyptian exhibits. Small enough to not feel as overwhelming as other museums. If you enjoy history and culture, would highly recommend.
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Tasha W.

Yelp
I've been in Atlanta all my life and was disappointed to know this place was here and I never knew about it. It's really affordable and you can even check out a family pass (up to six people) at the library. I highly recommend this beautiful museum to any and everyone. Check out my pictures.

Sidney B.

Yelp
Be sure to call ahead during COVID. Based on the website they are open, but we drove an hour and found out there is an "on boarding" process we didn't see on the website. We have free passes and were turned away once we arrived.
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Luca C.

Yelp
Pretty cool for a museum in Atlanta, many interesting things to see but the Egyptian exhibit is the main feature the other stuff is bonus. Great use of a free hour or two.
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Matt D.

Yelp
Great museum. Fantastic collection and very informative. Disturbing lack of refrigerator magnets in the gift shop. I still give it five stars.
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Yuna P.

Yelp
Proudly named after Michael C. Carlos, the Michael C. Carlos Museum (short for MCCM) was one of the reason why I chose Emory. Open to the public, this museum houses many artworks from all over the world: Egyptian, Incas, Greek, Romans, and many others. I first visited here with my Art History professor. We were studying Central American art and MCCM have an extensive collection of it. I was surprised to find many artifacts from the textbook. Having a physical resource definitely helped me out that semester and I'm sure it does for other students as well. (The rumor has it, that MCCM is the reason why so many Emory Art History majors are so knowledgeable about their field.) I don't know who you were, Michael C. Carlos, but you are a great man for donating all that money for art education.
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Anthony P.

Yelp
What else can I say but wow. This is definitely a hidden gem in Atlanta located on the beautiful campus of Emory in Decatur. This museum is by far one of the best history museums in Atlanta I would have to say even better than the high museum. I spent most of my time on the first floor where the Greek and Egyptian history were and they did not disappoint from statues to jewelry to mummies the museum had it all keeping me intrigued every turn. Though I tend to glance over most of the informational guides for each piece I really missed a lot of the important info luckily, my girlfriend who loves history kept me engaged to how each era of history was so amazing. I also love how the museum does free admission once a month and it so happened to fall on the day we went, though the price of admission is only 8 bucks I would gladly of paid for that. Parking is free on sundays in the parking deck so take advantage of this.
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Brandon S.

Yelp
The Carlos Museum is a hidden gem on the campus of Emory University. When you walk in you can go right and enter the ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian wing featuring awesome examples of ancient mosaics, statues, pottery, and art. The Egyptian hall has multiple mummies and sarcophagi, including the oldest mummy in the New World. This mummy is very unique because it is positioned on its side like a person sleeping. If you enter and go left you will see the ancient American exhibits including works from Inca, Aztec, and Mayan civilizations. The entrance fee is only $8, and came with an audio guide that gave outstanding information about many of the exhibits. A person could easily spend the entire day there, but give yourself at least two hours to see everything and soak in the history.
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Paul J.

Yelp
What a great little hidden gem. If you have any interest in Egyptology or Mesoamerica, you'll love this museum. It's not huge, but you can spend a few hours depending on how much time you spend at each exhibit. I was particularly impressed by the collection of Peruvian clay figures/jars, a really large Roman mosaic, and the impressive collection of ancient Egyptian mummies and sarcophagi. Everything is well organized and includes lots of descriptive information. Also, the building itself is an interesting architectural footnote. Designed by Michael Graves, the inside is textbook postmodernism, with playful vaulting and interesting windows. Logistics: If you're driving, on weekdays parking will be around $4-6 in the adjacent Fishburne visitor parking deck, depending on how long you stay. On weekends parking is free. You can also get there using the #6 MARTA bus, or one of the free CLIFF shuttles.
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Lindsey E.

Yelp
I was not expecting such an epic museum! I should have visited long ago. I bought a livingsocial deal to check out the Romare Bearden exhibit and was very impressed. The exhibit itself was enough, but this museum offered so much more. I spent a couple of hours perusing art and artifacts from all over the world in addition to checking out the Bearden exhibit. The museum's permanent collection features ancient pieces from all over the world. I was most impressed with the Egyptian art and artifacts. The museum actually had mummies and coffins. I had never seen a REAL mummy before. It was awesome! I also enjoyed the audio feature so I could get more details from the curators on the recordings. It just helps bring everything to life. I have never been big on audio at museums, but it really rounds out the experience. I went on a Sunday and there was not too much of a crowd. There were enough people so it didn't feel like a "night at the museum" but it wasn't so crowded that I couldn't stand and stare and read descriptions without somebody breathing down my neck. If I remember correctly, the regular cost for admission is $8 for adults. What a steal! Now that I know how awesome this museum is, I will definitely keep an eye out for upcoming exhibits.
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Allie A.

Yelp
Wandered in here on an early Saturday afternoon and enjoyed it very much. $8 admission fee for outsiders. What's not to love? A compact art museum with several floors with small but well-done exhibits. Photography allowed on a floor by floor basis. No crowds. Don't miss the tiny but wonderful little bookshop. What a wonderful way to spend a few hours.
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Squirrel L.

Yelp
Like Susan, I too was an art history major at Emory. Are we the only people who know that this museum exists? Hello? Is this thing on? This museum is great! Where else are you going to find a kitten mummy?!!!!! That's right I said KITTEN MUMMY! Someone thought enough of the little guy to mummify it. Sure they could have done it as some sort of offering, but I prefer to think they were trying to have their kitten meet up with them in some afterlife. And that my friends is just the sweetest damn thing I have ever seen in my life. They have plenty of people mummies in here too. They also have some fabulous vases, masks, coins, and all kinds of other interesting ancient pieces that I'm sure are wasted on the frat boys who never step foot inside the doors during their 4 years on campus. Tip: If you visit the museum on weekends, the parking lot at the B. Jones building is often open and available with free parking for visitors without Emory parking tags. On weekdays, you can pay to park in this same lot.
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Katie W.

Yelp
I was not an art history major as the other reviewers so far have been but I still really like this museum. I love art, history, and museums of art and history, but what I really, really love are antiquities and ancient artifacts. The Carlos Museum has plenty of that to keep me interested. They have an extensive display of Egyptian art and also Greek and Roman artifacts which I really enjoy. I was amazed by how much they have in their permanent collection. The permanent collection includes Ancient Egyptian and Nubian Art; Ancient Near Eastern Art; Art of the Ancient Americas; Asian Art; Greek and Roman Art; Sub-Saharan African Art; and Works of Art on Paper (drawings, prints, photographs, as well as some sculpture, paintings, and works in other media). This museum tends to be not that crowded even on weekends except for when they have certain special exhibits. I would highly recommend watching for the special exhibits that they have here because some of them are really good (the last big exhibit I saw here, Cradle of Christianity, was fantastic). In addition, they frequently offer courses and lectures (often related to special exhibits), as well as concerts and lunches, which are really interesting and well done.

Nnaemeka A.

Yelp
I really loved the tour of this museum. They have very interesting pieces of Egyptian and Indian art and history.
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Mina S.

Yelp
Do you go to Emory? If yes... GO TO THIS MUSEUM. It's a complete gem and you'll truly regret missing it. I took a mythology 101 class my first semester of freshman year and was later able to analyze and recognize a lot of the art in the museum. It. Was. AWESOME. It's FREE! If you DON'T go to Emory... GO TO THIS MUSEUM. It is home to many pieces which are difficult to come by in larger museums--and it's located on one of the South's most beautiful campuses. No excuuuuse!
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Sol A.

Yelp
I love this museum, it has everything you which in a museum but in a compact way. what I was must impressed about was their Egyptian exposition. I have never seen so many sarcophagus and mummies in a single place. It also has an interesting African exposition. I visited it once a couple of months ago with my parents and I'm thinking on going back to visit it by myself. A plus is that it is free for Emory students!
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E R.

Yelp
This is an excellent little museum, a real gem. Its collections (particularly the Egyptian one) are impressive. Unlike other small museums which offer a lot of copies and reproductions, this museum is full of noteworthy authentic artifacts. It recently featured a special exhibit on "Calligraphy" which was quite impressive. Please note that this museum is SMALL but the quality is EXCELLENT. For anyone interested in art and artifacts, this is one museum not to be missed. At a cost of only $8 for adults, I would say this museum is definitely worth visiting! As a side note, this museum once had the mummy determined by studies to be the lost pharoah, Ramesses I. After the mummy's identity was determined, the museum returned it to Egypt in 2003 as a gesture of goodwill.
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James P.

Yelp
My partner is a physician at Emory, so we got a free entrance! I honestly love any type of museum with old things and this place was great. It was a lot smaller than I expected, so don't expect the Metropolitan Museum or anything. The place only had a few people during the weekday and it was actually nice not having to dodge other viewers or making sure no one was accidentally getting in your pictures. This place is a hidden gem and I highly recommend it if you're in town visiting your kids at college or if you're working a shift at the hospital.

Dawna T.

Yelp
Second time to visit and both times I've been so impressed with the collections there. We've been to museums around the world and so believe there are more high quality items all in one place with incredibly detailed audio tours to both delight and educate. Great place to spend an afternoon in Atlanta before hitting a nearby restaurant.
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Julie S.

Yelp
I went for a field trip for my humanities class. It was great! Great price for admission. The museum is tucked in the Emory university and made a great day to explore the campus. My experience was wonderful.

Arnab M.

Yelp
I enjoy museums at colleges and universities because they are rarely crowded and often have very interesting and an eclectic mix of collections, and one gets a chance to see art, sculpture and other artifacts that off the beaten track. The Carlos museum has a small but impressive Greek, Roman and Egyptian collections as well as Native American and African sculpture and art. It is free for Emory staff, faculty and students, and faculty are allowed a guest, so I didn't have to pay the quite reasonable admission fee of $7. Oh, and the gift shop was great, half their merchandise was on sale, so I bought two interesting CDs with music form Brazil.

Jane A.

Yelp
Let me state my bias at the outset: I'm an art history grad student at Emory with a focus on Greek and Roman art, so I think the Carlos Museum is the bees knees! It's also the best kept secret in town! No one I meet in Atlanta has seen it, perhaps because it's tucked away in the Emory campus. Or they visited years ago, but the collection AND the museum have experienced tremendous growth since then. Do yourself a favor, visit this museum! In addition to the fine selection of Greek and Roman antiquities, it boasts spectacular collections of objects from the ancient Americas and Egypt. There are also sections of Asian and Near Eastern art and their African art (upstairs) is quite impressive. Check out the calendar on the website and you can see they offer an array of activities for both kids and adults. You can hear a world class scholar discuss archaeology, (like my awesome adviser, Prof. Bonna Wescoat, talking about her work at the Sanctuary of the Great Gods on the Greek island of Samothrace http://www.carlos.emory.edu/visit/calendar#/?i=2 ) or listen to a chamber ensemble play classical music, or join a reading group, or....well, you get the idea. The museum is intimate, quiet, and inexpensive, and on the weekends there is free parking in the Fishburne garage. This would be a great place for a daytime date, and just outside campus are several good restaurants in Emory Village. What are you waiting for? Check it out!