Mission:
To discover, interpret, and disseminate information about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through scientific research and education.

Background:
The American Museum of Natural History was established in 1869, just ten years after the publication of Charles Darwin's landmark The Origin of Species. The museum is comprised of twenty-five interconnected buildings housing forty-six permanent exhibition halls, including the Arthur Ross Hall of Meteorites, the Rose Center for Earth and Space, the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, and the Spitzer Hall of Human Origins. The museum also houses one of the largest natural history libraries in the Western Hemisphere, as well as a permanent collection of more than thirty million specimens and cultural artifacts.

Outstanding Web Features:
The American Museum of Natural History Web site features information on its public programs, an interactive floor plan of its permanent exhibitions, virtual tours of many exhibits, and a number of teacher's guides on topics such as dinosaurs and cosmic collisions. The site also offers links to a LizardCam, podcasts, and the Ology Web site, where children can ask scientists a question and learn how to create a coral reef.