Smithsonian Institution suffers from poor storage facilities

The largest museum collection in the world, the Smithsonian Institution is currently dealing with poor storage facilities for its collection of priceless artifacts. G. Wayne Clough, the secretary of the Smithsonian, and Smithsonian Inspector General Scott Dahl testified before a House committee on Wednesday that it is in need of new facilities for the pieces that are not currently on display at the museums.

The Washington Post reports that Dahl told the Committee on House Administration Wednesday that storage space that is currently being used now was built back in the 1950s as a temporary place for pieces of art, first lady gowns, archival footage, dinosaur bones and other artifacts. The buildings are sub-standard, with one collapsing in 2010 because of a snowstorm. In 2011, the earthquake also make one of the buildings unusable.

Dahl said there are “significant risks” if these buildings continue to be used, notes The Associated Press.

“We’re trying to move all the [items] out of the buildings. We would prefer not to use them,” Clough added.

The hearing had been called for an update on the National Museum of American History, National Air and Space Museum and National Museum of Natural History collections. Audits had showed that items from some collections couldn’t be accounted for, including 10 percent of the National Museum of American History’s collection.

Clough added that the Smithsonian has invested $462 million in managing the collections since 2006, but with tighter budget constraints, it may be hard for the institution to continue the investment. The institution has also had to enlist private help with preservation.

However, they did assure the House members that “the treasures are safe.”

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