The National Museum of Natural History (in French Muséum national d'histoire naturelle - MNHN), also known as "Le Muséum", is a Natural History museum located in Paris, inside the Jardin des Plantes, in the 5th arrondissement. The Museum is active in a constant research activity, which consists above all in ordering and understanding biological and ecological diversity, its origin, its role and its dynamics, to contribute to the sustainable management of this diversity. The Institution, through its knowledge dissemination actions, allows everyone, adults and children, to approach scientific culture and increase their knowledge base.

It is one of the oldest natural history museums in the world: in fact, it was already in 1635 that King Louis XIII had the "Jardin Royal des Plantes Médicinales" (royal garden of medicinal plants) established, a scientific institute with the aim of healing through medicinal plants. Slowly, the activity of the garden changed, becoming more and more a center for the study of Natural History. Finally, in 1793 the institution officially became a museum. It was above all during the nineteenth century that the Museum became very famous, becoming the reference point for the natural sciences . Over the centuries, the collections of the Muséum have been considerably enriched. In addition, with the colonial policy of France, it also began its expansion outside the French territory, especially for marine research and study activities. Today, the museum is placed under the joint protection of the Ministries of National Education, Research and the Environment. The Museum includes several institutions, including the Botanical Garden of the Jardin des Plantes and the Musée de l'homme.