Teotihuacan Treasures at the de Young Museum

On view Sept. 30, 2017 through Feb. 11, 2018 at the de Young Museum is Teotihuacan: City of Water, City of Fire, the first significant exhibition on the ancient city on view in the United States in more than 20 years.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Teotihuacan is one of the world's most important archaeological locations and the most-visited within Mexico. Located 30 miles outside of modern-day Mexico City, Teotihuacan was the center of Mesoamerica and once covered close to eight square miles and had over 100,000 inhabitants at its peak in 400 CE.

Exhibit Information

Over 200 artifacts are featured in the exhibition, with many in the U.S. for the first time and others recently excavated. Objects on display include ritual and monumental items found in the three main pyramids at Teotihuacan: the Feathered Serpent, Sun, and Moon Pyramids. The ancient city's residential compounds will be represented through a presentation of stone and ceramic sculptures. A particular highlight is the de Young's collection of mural fragments, displayed alongside fragments from the same dwelling on loan from Mexico.

Teotihuacan is presented in collaboration with Mexico's Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia, as part of a longstanding partnership. In displaying a number of artifacts from various excavations and collections together, the exhibition provides a unique opportunity for visitors to learn about Teotihuacan and its importance to the region's history and culture.

General Information

Teotihuacan is on view Sept. 30, 2017, through Feb. 11, 2018, at the de Young, conveniently located in the heart of Golden Gate Park. For more information, and to purchase tickets, please visit the de Young online. Tickets to this special exhibit include general admission access. Groups of 10 or more may be eligible for special pricing and tours. For more information, see Group Sales at the de Young.

Free admission days for Teotihuacan are held each Wednesday in October, and Saturdays Oct. 14 and Nov. 11, made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. In addition, the de Young is hosting free community programming on-site, including Mexican-inspired live music, art demos, and film presentations in conjunction with the exhibition. Please visit the de Young's exhibition page for more information on scheduling and to register for free exhibition tickets.