United States National Museum

United States National Museum. The Smithsonian Institution established the United States National Museum in 1846, with the goal of promoting the National Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of American History. The museum's early collections were based on the United States Exploring Expedition led by Charles Wilkes, which brought back numerous natural history specimens from around the world, including Hawaii, Australia, and South America. The museum's first home was the Arts and Industries Building, designed by Adolf Cluss and Paul Schulze.

● History

The United States National Museum was founded during the Mexican-American War, with the support of President James K. Polk and Secretary of War William L. Marcy. The museum's early history was marked by the American Civil War, during which the National Mall was used as a Union Army camp, and the museum's collections were stored in the United States Capitol building. After the war, the museum continued to grow, with the addition of new collections from Alaska, acquired through the Alaska Purchase negotiated by William H. Seward and Russian Empire diplomat Eduard de Stoeckl. The museum also received collections from the Hayden Geological Survey led by Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden, which explored the American West and discovered numerous fossil species, including those found in Dinosaur National Monument and Yellowstone National Park.

● Collections

The United States National Museum has a vast collection of over 145 million natural history specimens and cultural artifacts, including dinosaur fossils from Tyrannosaurus rex and Velociraptor, as well as mammal specimens from African elephant and Giant panda. The museum's collections also include anthropology specimens from Native American cultures, such as the Inuit and Navajo people, as well as Asian cultures, including Chinese, Japanese, and Korean artifacts. The museum's entomology collection is one of the largest in the world, with specimens from Butterfly and Moth species, as well as Beetle and Ant species. The museum also has a significant collection of mineral specimens, including diamond and ruby samples from South Africa and Burma.

● Exhibitions

The United States National Museum has hosted numerous exhibitions over the years, including the Hope Diamond exhibition, which featured the famous diamond owned by Harry Winston and Evalyn Walsh McLean. The museum has also hosted exhibitions on Dinosaur fossils, including a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton found in Hell Creek Formation and a Velociraptor skeleton found in Gobi Desert. The museum's Butterfly Pavilion exhibition features a live tropical environment with Butterfly species from around the world, including Monarch butterfly and Blue morpho. The museum has also hosted exhibitions on Space exploration, including a Apollo 11 command module and a Moon rock sample brought back by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.

● Buildings

The United States National Museum is housed in several buildings on the National Mall, including the National Museum of Natural History building, designed by Hornblower & Marshall and Paul J. Pelz. The museum's collections are also stored in the Smithsonian Institution Building, also known as the Castle, which was designed by James Renwick Jr. and features a Romanesque Revival architecture style. The museum's Arts and Industries Building was designed by Adolf Cluss and Paul Schulze and features a Victorian architecture style. The museum's National Museum of American History building was designed by McKim, Mead & White and features a Beaux-Arts architecture style.

● Administration

The United States National Museum is administered by the Smithsonian Institution, which is led by a Board of Regents that includes the Chief Justice of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, and the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. The museum's daily operations are overseen by a Director, who is appointed by the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents. The museum is also supported by the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's Advisory Board, which includes scientists and experts from around the world, including Harvard University and University of California, Berkeley. The museum's budget is approved by the United States Congress and is funded through a combination of federal funding and private donations from organizations such as the National Geographic Society and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Category:Smithsonian Institution