U.S. Department of the Interior Museum Program

The bureaus and offices of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) manage one of the largest museum collections in the United States, with over 75 million objects and 91,000 linear feet of archives held in trust for the American public. From a hand woven basket to a 100 year old plant specimen to a Tyrannosaurus rex fossil, these objects help us achieve a better understanding of our nation’s long cultural and natural history. In recognition of the importance of these museum collections, the Interior Museum Program works with the DOI bureaus and offices to provide policy, advocacy, training, and assistance in managing their museum collections. The bureaus and offices also partner with hundreds of non-Federal museums and universities that help preserve DOI collections for maximum benefit to the public around the world.

The DOI bureaus and office that manage museum collections are: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Department of the Interior Museum, Indian Arts & Crafts Board, National Park Service, Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and US Geological Survey.