Discover

Did you know the Department of the Interior has more than 75 million museum objects and 90,000 linear feet of archives? It's true! Our ten bureaus and offices have amazing museum collections. Only a fraction is exhibited in visitor centers and museums across the nation, while much more is stored for preservation and future research. But, we're committed to making more of our museum collections available, more accessible, more discoverable.

Bringing more of the collections online is part of U S [ department of the interior fy 2022-2026 strategic plan]
to provide greater and more equitable access for all to enjoy these treasures. Progress is slow and steady, so please check back often. You will find more of our museum collections online every year! 

Our extensive museum collections, preserve the places, stories, objects, and artifacts of our shared national story. Visit the links below to see more and learn more. Discover your DOI museum collections.  

 

  • The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has a collection of over 3 million museum objects and 663 LF of archives held in 87 BIA facilities and 69 non-BIA institutions. This collection preserves the history of the BIA, Indian schools, and Indian culture for present and future generations.
    Bureau of Indian Affairs Museum Program

    Bureau of Indian Affairs

  • Black and white, patterned Cannonball Pueblo cup, c.1180-1280
    The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has a collection of over 12 million museum objects and 1,600 LF of archives held in 3 BLM facilities and 170 non-BLM institutions. This collection reflects the historical and cultural foundations of the nation as it was recovered from significant cultural and paleontological sites on public lands.
    Bureau of Land Management Cultural Heritage Program

    Bureau of Land Management

  • 3-D scan of a Bison latifrons, an extinct ancestor of the bison, created from specimens in the Bureau of Reclamation's museum collection.
    The Bureau of Reclamation has over 7 million museum objects and almost 1,000 LF of archives in 14 Reclamation facilities and 60 non-Reclamation institutions. The collection illustrates important achievements and challenges of water delivery to the western states, and supports the preservation of cultural resources that highlight the history of managing the nation’s water and related resources.
    Bureau of Reclamation Museum Property

    Bureau of Reclamation

  • The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has a collection of 55 museum objects housed in 3 BSEE locations. This small collection reflects the mission of BSEE.
    Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)

    Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

  • Buffalo skull
    The Bureau of Trust Funds Administration (BTFA) has a collection of 120 museum objects held in 6 BFTA locations.
    Bureau of Trust Funds Administration

    Bureau of Trust Funds Administration

  • Men's linen shirt with yellow, red, and black beads by unknown Lakota artist, c.1890
    The Indian Arts and Crafts Board (IACB) has a collection of over 11,000 items housed in 3 IACB museums. This collection directly supports the IACB mission of uplifting and preserving Native American culture and traditions as it showcases the work of Native American artists and artisans.
    Indian Arts & Crafts Board Museums

    Indian Arts & Crafts Board

  • Since 1938, the US Department of the Interior Museum has welcomed visitors to enjoy exhibits in person at the Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building in Washington, DC. The Interior Museum has a collection of more than 8,000 held at 1 IM location and 1 other institution. This collection supports exhibitions and programs that interpret the history and work of the Department of the Interior as well as being used in the Art-in-Office Program for the Office of the Secretary.
    The Interior Museum

    Interior Museum

  • Pastel landscape of Bandelier National Monument's Administration building nestled against the mountains
    The National Park Service (NPS) has a museum collection of nearly 50 million museum objects and 85,000 linear feet of archives from 385 parks. These objects are curated at parks, regional centers, and offices as well as 833 non-NPS repositories. The collections are used for interpretive and educational programs as they document administrative histories of the parks as well as park cultural and natural resources.
    National Park Service Museum Management Program

    National Park Service

  • Neilsen Automatic Feeder, D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives, FISH 16789
    The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has over 3 million museum objects and 2,000 LF of archives curated in 148 FWS units and housed in 130 non-FWS institutions. These museum collections provide baseline data, serving as scientific and historical documentation of FWS resources and the purposes for which FWS was established.
    US Fish and Wildlife Service Historic Preservation

    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

  • USGS red Model A, 1930, on exhibit with desert background and horses with saddles
    The US Geological Survey (USGS) has a collection of over 55,000 museum objects housed in 3 USGS units. This museum property is further divided into three distinct collections to highlight different aspects of USGS work. These are the Cultural (Historical) Collection, Natural History Collection #1 (Zoological), and Natural History Collection #2 (Botanical).
    U.S. Geological Survey

    U.S. Geological Survey