1. ^*The department of natural resources shall maintain a Missouri state museum which shall be a conservational and historical museum in which shall be collected and displayed such exhibits of the products of the mines, mills, fields and forests of this state and such other articles and products as will display the natural resources of this state and their utilization as the department may deem necessary and expedient. The department shall design and install necessary cases, racks, tables and other equipment desirable to the purposes of the exhibits.

2. The department shall appoint a director of the state museum, who shall have such duties and responsibilities as the department may direct.

3. The board of public buildings shall designate such part of the first and second floor of the capitol building as it thinks advisable to be used as a part of the Missouri state museum and shall also designate a wing or section of such space to be known as the Missouri soldiers and sailors’ memorial hall.

4. The department shall coordinate its activities relating to the museum with those of the board of public buildings in the use and utilization of the corridors, halls, walls, and other space within the state capitol building as may be necessary for the display and exhibits of the museum and the memorial hall.

5. The department shall receive from the adjutant general all matters and records pertaining to Missouri soldiers, sailors and Marines serving in all wars declared by the United States, including such inscriptions and tablets as may be desirable and available.