Established in 1915, the Museum of Man was part of the original Panama-California Exposition that developed much of Balboa Park in San Diego.
The museum's iconic structure and tower are San Diego landmarks that have housed cultural anthropology exhibits and attractions that have entertained and informed guests for over a century.
After 40 years of being known as the San Diego Museum of Man, the organization decided it was time for a change, saying "...it is time we step into a new identity that better reflects our work towards equity, inclusion, and decolonization. On August 2, they announced a new name, the Museum Of Us, and posted the following message on their website:
It's us! Your new museum. Welcome to the Museum of Us!
Formerly known as the San Diego Museum of Man, we have begun the process of changing our name to better reflect our commitment to inclusivity. Please pardon our dust as the website undergoes updates. To learn more, visit our Museum Renaming Process page.
The name change is not a recent development. The organization says that they began considering the change in 1991 at the request of community members, saying the gender-specific name made some visitors feel excluded and unwelcome. The museum notes on its website "Not only did the Museum’s old name support patriarchal systems, but it represented a colonial past that perpetuated racist narratives and harmed Indigenous communities."
The museum's Board of Trustees approved to change the "San Diego Museum of Man" to the "Museum of Us" on June 24, 2020.