As time progressed, the museum  remained a place for  individuals to display their collections. For example, in 1822, Charles Willson Peale painted this self-portrait in his museum. What is he showing the viewer?

You are correct if you said bones and fossils. Peale was an avid collector of animal specimens, fossils, and skeletal remains. This passion, combined with his desire to promote education, led him to open the doors of his museum to the public. Peale was credited for being the first to display the remains of a large mastodon, or mammoth, in his museum; a feature that drew crowds of people.