The National Museum of Natural History is a museum dedicated to the natural history of the United States. It is located in Washington, D.C. and is part of the Smithsonian Institution. The museum features exhibits on the history of the Earth, plants and animals, and human cultures
A national museum can be a museum maintained and funded by a national government. In many countries it denotes a museum run by the central government, while other museums are run by regional or local governments. In the United States, most national museums are privately funded and operated, but have been designated by Congress as national institutions that are important to the country. In other countries a much greater number of museums are run by the central government.