Smithsonian Will Charge for Butterfly Exhibit

[MountainLaurel]

In the general scheme of things, this seems pretty minor. But the Smithsonians, being free, have always been accessible no matter your income. This may be the start of the "business model" approach to national cultural resources.

Butterflies are not going to be free, at least not at the Smithsonian Institution.

In a rare move, the Smithsonian is going to charge admission for part of a new permanent exhibition called "Butterflies and Plants: Partners in Evolution."

Admission to the Smithsonian's Washington museums has always been free, and the legislation and wills creating four of its museums -- the National Portrait Gallery, the Freer Gallery of Art, the National Museum of African Art and the Hirshhorn Museum -- specifically ban admission fees. But in recent years some lawmakers have been pushing Smithsonian officials to find new ways of meeting expenses.

The National Museum of Natural History's two-tier look at butterflies will open in November. There will be a general exhibition that will focus on the evolution of plants and butterflies. It will include a window looking into a special pavilion filled with live tropical butterflies. All that will be free. But visitors who want to enter the Butterfly Pavilion, a climate-controlled space with about 300 to 400 butterflies whizzing around, will have to pay.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/24/AR2007042402495.html

[quispquake]

1. Gotta pay for the director's exhorbitant salary somehow

Think I read where it's a half million a year...

[bryant69]

2. Or possibly, just possibly, that climate control is expensive

I mean it sounds expensive doesn't it?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Virginia Dare]

6. There has been some apparent corruption going on at the Smithsonian...

could be what the OP was referring to.

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=345884&Category=14&subCategoryID=

[Zywiec]

3. What a crock of shit

Living in DC we brag about how our museums are free. This is just the first step to charging for everything. Oh well, so much for culture.

Cheers

[underpants]

5. Exactly just like libraries there should never be a charge

This is why we pay taxes for crying out loud no matter how much THEY are trying to make your life about funding a warmachine THIS is what cultures do. Hell even Iraq had a museum and literature establishment...well at least they did.

[Mike Daniels]

11. A number of galleries charge admission in DC

and as another poster mentioned, most musuems throughout the world charge admission.

Given that this is limited to a specific temporary exhibit I'm not that concerned. The Smithsonian has been mismanaged forever and needs to re-evaluate some of their practices as is.

[CoffeeCat]

4. I have no problem paying for this...

This sounds like a very expensive exhibit. It's climate-controlled, it contained 400 species of butterflies
and I'm sure it's high maintenance.

Museums are non-profit entities, and I'm more than willing to throw out a few dollars to help a
national museum meet the expenses of bringing an amazing exhibit like this to the people.

[Virginia Dare]

7. Pay as you go society...

pretty soon only the rich will be able to afford any amenities.

[Benhurst]

8. A wise decision.

Only the rich have the highly-developed sensitivity to appreciate such an experience.

Under the so-called "Patriot" Act, butterflies may be free, but American citizens aren't. Root, hogs, or die! It's the BushAmerican way.

[BlooInBloo]

9. Wonder if it could have anything to do with its being an "evolution" exhibit

[theoldman]

10. I guess I am surprised that the Smithsonian is still free.

Most of the museums I have visited charged an admission fee. If the generally admission was free they would charge for special exhibits.

[SheilaT]

12. I have always been amazed

that the Smithsonian is free. Especially when you look at the charges to get into most museums everywhere else in this country and in the world. And reading through to the end of the article I don't think the $5.00 charge is that outrageous, and it will be free one day a week. I've also heard people complain about their tax money being used to support the Smithsonian when they live in some other part of the country and never have been.

I had the good fortune to live in DC for more than a decade, and was even a Docent at the Natural History Museum for a couple of years. I always appreciated that I lived there and could go to the museums any time I wanted.

[Javaman]

13. Why do the butterflys hate america? nt