This museum was intended for the Universal Exhibition along with the Eiffel Tower in 1900 and, like the tower, was not meant to stay after the festivities. The Parisian people loved it, though, and how could they tear down such a beautiful design? They did what the Paris people are famous for, they turned it into a museum.

It was originally a train station built to serve the numerous visitors expected for the Universal Exhibition, and was the first train station in Paris to use electric lighting. Like the Eiffel tower, it did stick around after the visitors to the festival were gone, and in 1977 became a museum geared toward celebrating the artists of the 19th century. The interior desing was completed by Gae Aulenti and the collections come from all over the other museums of Paris. This rotating exhibition of art is necessary because it is also one of the smallest museums in Paris--by Paris standards.

Most of the collections housed here are on loan from the Louvre, the Musee du Jeu de Paume, and of course the National museum of Modern Art. There are often film festivals and sculpture exhibitions as well, check online to find out what's in store and on display during your trip.