The National Museum is an organ for the dissemination of scientific and cultural Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) acting at the interface memory and scientific production. It is one of the most important museums in Latin America, the first scientific institution in the country and the largest museum of natural history and anthropology of Latin America.

Initially served to meet the interests of promoting economic and cultural progress in the country. Originally called the Royal Museum, was built at UFRJ in 1946. It is located inside the park of the Quinta da Boa Vista neighborhood of San Cristobal, near the Maracana stadium.