The United States National Miiseitm zzz 



and aims, and to mention the most notable objects in its 

 collections. 



It will be perceived, from the statements already made, that 

 the Museum is essentially a natural development springing 

 from the activities of the government, growing with their 

 growth, and expanding with their expansion. It had its ori- 

 gin in the great naval exploring expedition which the gov- 

 ernment organized in the early part of the century, and found 

 an important expansion in the long series of topographical 

 surveys of the public domain, and geological surveys of later 

 years. The scientific investigation of the primary indus- 

 tries — agriculture, fisheries, and mining — by the govern- 

 ment has also resulted in large additions to the Museum. 

 Finally, the desire on the part of the government that the 

 people should gain a better understanding of its practical 

 workings, through representative displays of processes and 

 objects in the great public exhibitions, has broadened the 

 activities and increased the wealth of the Museum, both 

 directly and indirectly; — directly, because the Museum has 

 need to bestir itself to bring together and arrange exhibits 

 which will be acceptable to the public ; indirectly, because 

 the participation of the government of the United States often 

 leads other governments to participate, and the exhibits of 

 these, in greater or less proportion, are ultimately presented 

 to the United States for its National Museum. 



The field of activities of the government has had a strong 

 influence on the character of the collections of its National 

 Museum. While European governments have been engaged 

 in exploring new regions and founding colonies in distant 

 sections of the globe, that of the United States has confined 

 its attention almost exclusively to North America. The col- 

 lections of the National Museum, therefore, are predomin- 

 antly North American. Leaving out of consideration the 



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