Celebrating 50 years of growth and the volunteers who made it happen with a little look into its history until to now

There’s something quite magical about stepping into the Museum of Antiquities. One moment you’re walking through the familiar halls of the University of Saskatchewan, the next you’re standing face to face with the ancient world, surrounded by sphinxes, kings and gods who’ve outlived entire civilizations.

This fall, the museum celebrated its 50th anniversary, marking half a century of preserving history and sparking imagination. But this golden milestone wasn’t just about looking back. It was about celebrating the museum’s vibrant role in student life today as a space for learning, volunteering and bringing history to life right here on campus. 

The Museum of Antiquities began in 1974 as a bold idea shared by two professors, Michael Swan and Nicholas Gyenes. Their vision was simple but powerful. If students couldn’t travel to Europe to see the world’s greatest works of art, those works could come to them and inspire students and others right here in the prairies.

What started with a dozen plaster casts from the Louvre soon grew into a collection that demanded a home of its own. By 1981, the museum had officially opened in the Murray Building. Showcasing classical masterpieces from ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt and the Near East. Decades later, it found its permanent residence in the Peter MacKinnon Building, where sunlight and stone now mingle across a gallery filled with artifacts and replicas that astonishingly bring the past back to life. 

Over the decades, the Museum of Antiquities has become a cornerstone of cultural and academic life at the university. It’s a classroom, a community hub and a place where art, archaeology and storytelling collide. University students wander in between classes to admire artifacts or unwind after lectures, while school tours and community groups fill the halls with curiosity. 

Beyond being a place of quiet study, the museum has hosted countless events that connect ancient history with modern audiences, from ghost tours, ancient and medieval adventure camps to heritage festivals and collaborations with the Diefenbaker Canada Centre. This year’s 50th anniversary celebration brought all of that energy together, commemorating not only the museum’s founding but the people, student volunteers and staff who have kept it thriving for five decades. 

To mark the occasion, the museum’s director, Dr. Tracene Harvey, unveiled three new stunning replicas that expand its storytelling power: the Code of Hammurabi, the Black Obelisk of Shalmanser III and the Sphinxes of the Palace of Darius. Each new addition represents a piece of humanity’s long conversation about power, justice and identity. 

The Code of Hammurabi, a massive black basalt stele dating to 1750 BCE, records one of the world’s earliest sets of written laws. At its top, the king of Babylon stands before Shamash, the sun god. This is a symbol of divine authority and justice. The inscription below outlines nearly 300 laws written in Akkadian cuneiform, setting the foundation for legal systems that would echo through history. 

The original Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III was carved around 825 BCE to celebrate the Assyrian king’s military victories and political alliances; its replica stands proud in the gallery. Its reliefs depict processions of tribute and scenes of conquest, including one of the earliest known images of the biblical figure Jehu, King of Israel. The obelisk captures a moment when myth and history intertwine, connecting cultures that shaped the ancient Near East. 

Completing the trio, the Sphinxes from the Palace of Darius add a touch of Persian grandeur. Created during the reign of Darius I in the 6th century BCE, these human-headed, lion-bodied guardians once adorned the royal palace at Susa, watching over the heart of the Achaemenid Empire. Their glazed brick bodies, rich in yellows, greens and browns, shimmered under ancient light and now their replicas do the same in the museum’s gallery. 

While the exhibits may steal the spotlight, much of the museum’s magic happens behind the scenes and that’s where volunteers can shine. The Museum of Antiquities volunteer program has become one of the most rewarding and accessible ways for undergraduate students to gain hands-on experience in museum work. Students assist in a wide range of tasks, helping curate exhibits, managing visitor tours, updating artifact records, preparing educational materials and organizing community events. 

For many volunteers, including myself, the experience transforms the way we see history. Cataloguing artifacts becomes an exercise in attention to detail, guiding visitors turns into storytelling and helping with events such as the 50th anniversary becomes a chance to connect people with cultures that existed thousands of years ago. 

During the anniversary celebration, student volunteers played a central role. They helped coordinate the unveiling, managed guest check-ins and assisted with everything from offering food and drinks to social media outreach. I personally felt extremely lucky to be a volunteer,  to meet such wonderful fellow students and to have such a wonderful director who truly loves the passion these students bring into this museum. Their enthusiasm brought warmth and energy to an event steeped in ancient themes, proof that history is most alive when students are a part of it.

Volunteering at the museum isn’t just about helping out; it’s about learning practical skills and discovering new academic pathways. Students from History, Archaeology, Art History, Education and even Engineering bring unique perspectives to the work. By contributing to research, exhibit design and visitor engagement, volunteers develop communication, organization, and problem-solving skills that apply far beyond the museum’s walls. 

Some go on to careers in museums, cultural heritage, education or research, while others carry a lifelong appreciation of art and history into whatever they do next. This program also fosters an interdisciplinary collaboration. A classics student might partner with an art major to interpret an artifact, while a computer science student helps digitize records or improve the museum’s online presence. It’s a rare space on campus where academic fields intersect, united by curiosity. 

As the museum looks ahead to the next 50 years, it remains committed to accessibility and engagement. Its mission has always been to make art and history available to all, not just scholars or experts. The museum regularly hosts tours for local schools, workshops for families and events for the wider community. It’s a space where the public can stand before a statue of Aphrodite, admire a fragment of ancient pottery or explore the vast coin collection, and feel the same wonder that students felt fifty years ago when the first replicas arrived on campus. 

That accessibility extends to its volunteering opportunities as well. Anyone interested in helping, whether for a semester, a summer or a single event, can apply through the museum’s website or stop by the museum office to learn more. Experience is welcomed, but enthusiasm and curiosity for the museum are enough. 

50 years is a long time for any institution, but for the Museum of Antiquities, it’s just the beginning. Its golden anniversary serves as both a reflection and a promise, a reminder of what has been achieved and what’s still to come. 

In a world that moves faster every year, the museum offers something increasingly rare. A place to slow down, look closely and connect with the shared story of humanity. It invites everyone to see that the ancient world isn’t gone. It’s right here, waiting in plaster and stone, ready to teach, inspire and remind us that the past still has plenty to say. 

So next time you’re wandering between classes in the Peter MacKinnon Building, pause for a moment and step inside the museum. Meet the new artifacts and say hello to the friendly familiars. Fifty years in, the Museum of Antiquities is still Saskatoon’s most unexpected time machine, driven by curiosity.