Loans

Update, February 2024:  Unfortunately, due to a heavy schedule of upcoming loans and exhibits, we do not have the capacity to approve new loans which would ship out before May 2026. Therefore, we are postponing consideration of new exhibition loan requests.

The Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), loans objects from its collections for temporary exhibits to qualifying museums. 

While the Department's goal is to accommodate qualified borrowers, the volume and timing of submissions often make it impossible to approve all requests. For the best chance of approval, please request the loan at least 18 months prior to the proposed shipping date, with clear intellectual justification for the loan and evidence of budgetary planning for all costs, including conservation, bracket-making, packing and shipping. Submission of a loan request is not a guarantee that the request will be approved.

For more information regarding our loan policies and procedures and to submit a loan proposal please refer to the documents below.