The Museon Arlaten, that's to say the "Arlesian Museum", was founded in 1896 by the poet Frédéric Mistral. Mistral envisioned this museum as a tool for highlighting the culture of the region. The collections, which have belonged to the Bouches du Rhône department from the very beginning, touch upon various topics: costumes and fabrics, rites and legends, crafts, etc. It is however only since 2000 that the museum changed its status, and went from being a non-profit organization to a departmental museum. The Museon Arlaten, is a «locus of memory» for Provensal society. It reflects the feelings of belonging as they expressed themselves during the 19th century. For some centenarians, its collections and presentations represent the early days of regional ethnology and its museography. With regards to the forthcoming renovation work, the museum represents the ideal foundation to illustrate the evolution of these disciplines and to reconstitute Arlesian and Provensal society of the past. During this period of redefinition, the scientific staff continues conducting research, as well as acquiring and evaluating collections.