History and Establishment - Established in 1866 through a gift from George Peabody - Peabody committed $150,000 to establish the museum - Museum opened its first exhibition in 1867 - Museum building completed in 1877 and expanded in 1888 and 1913

Collections - Steward to archaeological, ethnographic, osteological, and archival collections - Focus on cultures of North and South America and the Pacific Islands - Collections from Africa, Europe, and Asia - North American collection spans 10,000 years - Central American collection includes Mayan material culture

North America - Archaeological and ethnographic holdings from North America - Artifacts from various parts of the continent - Mimbres collections from the Southwest - Grace Nicholson Collection of California baskets - Lewis and Clark Collection

Central America - Focus on archaeological materials from eastern Honduras, Nicaragua, and lower Central America - Large collection of Mayan material culture - Stone sculptures from Copán - Fine artifacts from the Sacred Cenote of Chichen Itza - 600 plaster casts of monuments at important Central American sites

Asia - Collection includes objects made and used by the Ainu people - Japanese and Chinese ceramics and porcelains - Colorful textiles made by the Kachin people - Siberian hide costumes and carved wooden household items - Extensive collection of excavated artifacts from Tepe Yahya and Tarsus