The Michigan State University Museum will reopen to the public on January 14, 2026, marking a bold new chapter for one of MSU’s most historic institutions. Established in 1857, the Museum reemerges after its first major renovation in more than 75 years with reimagined spaces designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and collaboration.
The renovation includes more flexible spaces, modernized restrooms, and significant climate control upgrades that will ensure a sustainable and thermoregulated environment for generations to come. 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 investment is a testament to the MSU Museum’s critical role as a fixture of the university’s academic landscape, and as a cultural anchor for the region. Opened in 1857, the first year classes were hosted on campus, the museum and its collection of over 1 million objects are an integral part of research, teaching, and learning.
“This reopening will mark the start of an exciting and forward-thinking chapter for the MSU Museum, which has served generations of Spartans and community members for over 150 years,” said MSU Provost Laura Lee McIntyre. “The improved facility will provide the Museum with a strong and sustainable foundation to pursue its bold vision as an interdisciplinary museum on the campus of a leading global public research university.”
Guided by its mission to create and facilitate experiences at the nexus of arts, sciences, cultures, and technologies, the MSU Museum now features flexible learning environments, collaborative labs, and dynamic public spaces that connect research with real-world experiences.
“This is more than a renovation—it’s a complete reimagining of what a museum can be in the 21st century,” said Devon Akmon, Director of the MSU Museum. “We have built spaces that invite experimentation, support interdisciplinary collaboration, and create experiences that resonate with our community. It’s about transforming the Museum from a place that preserves knowledge into a place that produces it.”
Since its founding, the MSU Museum has collected objects and specimens to tell stories, answer questions, and advance research. Now, it looks to the future by embracing new technologies, creative methods, and inclusive practices that reflect the evolving ways people learn and connect. With the building renovations completed, the MSU Museum now has the facilities to introduce expanded digital infrastructure, improved accessibility features, and new immersive technologies in the coming years.
“Through this transformation, we’re creating a more open, welcoming, and flexible environment that empowers visitors to engage with the Museum in new ways,” said Teresa Goforth, Director of Exhibitions. “Our goal is to foster connection and curiosity, to help people see themselves in the stories we share, and to spark dialogue across disciplines.”
The reopening of the building allows for the return of the museum’s exhibitions and programming to its home in the center of campus. A highlight of this is the timely exhibition, Blurred Realities, which explores how truth, perception, and technology intersect in today’s information landscape. Through immersive installations and thought-provoking artwork, the exhibition examines our uneasy relationship with fabrication, why we embrace fiction yet reject digital manipulation, and how evolving technologies shape our understanding of what’s real. As the United States marks 250 years of democracy, Blurred Realities asks visitors to reflect on the forces shaping trust, truth, and shared understanding in the digital age.
The MSU Museum invites the campus and community to mark its reopening with a brief ceremony and remarks at 3:30 PM on January 14, 2026, followed by the first opportunity to explore the newly renovated building. Guests are then welcome to join a reception celebrating Blurred Realities exhibition. Admission is free, but advance registration is encouraged.