[3] MCI's staff combine state-of-the-art instrumentation and scientific techniques with the knowledge of materials and the history of technology to provide technical research studies and interpretation of art, as well as historical and anthropological objects, to improve the conservation and collections storage capabilities at the Smithsonian.

The Board of Regents approved a name change to the Smithsonian Center for Materials Research and Education (SCMRE) in 1998.

SCMRE's mission was to serve all museum communities - national and international, and provide professional training and education programs.

In 2006 the Board of Regents approved the name change to the Museum Conservation Institute (MCI).

Sanchita Balachandran, 2024- Jessica S. Johnson, Acting Director, 2023-2024 Robert J. Koestler, 2004-2023 Lambertus van Zelst, 1984–2003 Robert M. Organ, 1967–1983 Charles H. Olin, 1966–1967 MCI's laboratories are equipped with advanced analytical instrumentation,[6] including: The Smithsonian's Museum Conservation Institute and the Institut Photonique d’Analyse Non-destructive Européen des Matériaux Anciens platform at Soleil have formed a partnership to use the power of the third-generation synchrotron to study and preserve the priceless Smithsonian collections.