Skip to Main Content

Museums Miami

Museums Miami integrates and enhances Miami University’s rich resources for the study and preservation of art, material culture, and natural history. By connecting a broad range of departments and disciplines across the university, the center seeks to strengthen the role of museum collections and object-based learning in the university’s educational mission.

Our Mission

  • Position Miami’s museums and collections as an integral part of the educational experience at Miami University in ways that benefit all majors
  • Increase interdisciplinary dialog and exchange.
  • Provide increased access to physical collections through comprehensive digital catalogs and an integrated interface that allows independent catalogs to be searched simultaneously.
  • Enhance the interdisciplinary research capabilities infrastructure at Miami University.
  • Formally integrate the contributions of Miami’s museums and material collections into the institutional strategic plan.

Miami Collections

Miami University offers a number of Museums and other special collections for students and community members alike to enjoy.

Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum

In addition to an energetic schedule of historic and contemporary exhibitions from around the world, the Miami University Art Museum houses a growing permanent collection of approximately 17,000 artworks.

The Conservatory

The Miami University Hamilton Conservatory maintains a scientifically-verified collection of plants to enhance the knowledge and appreciation of plants through public education and interpretive programs.

Geology Museum

Located in Shideler Hall, The Karl E. Limper Geology Museum displays fossils of Southwestern Ohio as well as minerals, rocks, fossils, and meteorites from all over the world.

Hiestand Galleries

In addition to an energetic schedule of historic and contemporary exhibitions from around the world, the Miami University Art Museum houses a growing permanent collection of approximately 17,000 artworks.

McGuffey House and Museum

Dedicated to educating students in the greater community, the William Holmes McGuffey House and Museum presents an accurate historical representation of several periods of history, ranging from the 1830s to the 1880s.

Museum of Natural History

Located in Upham Hall, the Robert A. Hefner Museum of Natural History explores animal natural history, animal biodiversity, conservation and ecology.

Patterson Place Museum

The former home of the presidents of Western College houses the offices of the Western College Alumnae Association, Inc. and the Patterson Place Museum. The Museum collection includes paintings, furniture and other artifacts.

Special Collections

King Library houses The Walter Havighurst Special Collections, containing over over 95,000 historical, literary, and cultural items. The collection includes the archives of Miami University, Western College, and Oxford College.

Turrell Herbarium

The Willard Sherman Turrell Herbarium houses approximately 650,000 dried plants from around the world, including vascular plants, bryophytes, fungi, lichens, algae and fossil plants.

University Archives

The Miami University Archives chronicles University history, administrative business, and teaching activities. Materials include manuscripts, publications, maps, photographs, memorabilia, plans, electronic records and official records.

Oxford Museum Association

The Oxford Museum Association is a non-profit organization committed to the conservation and demonstration of nineteenth and early-twentieth-century agricultural life in southwest Ohio.

Smith Library of Regional History

The Smith Library of Regional History collects information on the history of Oxford, surrounding townships, all of Butler County, and other areas of the Miami River Valleys.

Museums Miami Center

Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum
801 S. Patterson Ave
Oxford, OH 45056, USA