Musée d'Ethnographie du Trocadéro

The Musée d'Ethnographie du Trocadéro occupies a unique place in the history of Parisian culture, as it was the first institution in the city dedicated to anthropology. Founded in eighteen seventy-eight by the Ministry of Public Education, it was housed within the original Trocadéro Palace, a structure famous for its blend of exotic architectural styles that often drew sharp criticism from the public. While the building itself was eventually demolished in nineteen thirty-five to make way for the Palais de Chaillot, the museum served as a critical site for scholars and artists alike during its lifetime.