The term "eco-museum", as well as its definition and relevant concepts, was coined in France in the early 1970s. It became a world-renowned movement in the mid-1980s as a nouvelle- museology that was contrary to the concepts of the traditional museum. Nowadays, this movement is considered something from the distant past. However, the term "eco-museum" continues to be misunderstood due to its popular use by unqualified museums and incorrect interpretations by some publications. In his book "Ecomuseums: A Sense of Place", Peter Davis provides an incorrect interpretation, even in the second edition released in 2011. In this paper, French documents and writings are used to elucidate the true definition of "ecomuseum" as it originated in France.