sentences:  In the early 20th century, the Ethnographic Museum Basel began sponsoring expeditions to enhance its collections.In 1944 the museum was renamed the "Museum of Ethnology and Swiss Museum of Folklore" ("Museum für Völkerkunde und Schweizerisches Museum für Volkskunde") to reflect its dual mission of documenting local as well as "foreign" cultures.Over time the museum shifted its focus to the promotion of intercultural dialog, leading to its official renaming in 1996 as the Museum of Cultures.