What's at RiskThe Legacy Fund challenge deadline has passed and donations past September 30th will not count towards the Legacy Fund online challenge...but we still need your support to ensure that the Smithsonian's incredible collections, exhibitions, and programs – as well as the buildings that house them – will survive for generations to come! The Smithsonian proudly bears great responsibility in caring for America's legacy. But so much is now at stake because the buildings that house our unparalleled exhibitions are showing their age – some are more than a century old – along with the damage from the wear and tear of 24 million eager visitors every year. Today, our top priority is to take action – we must correct problems that have been mounting over time... threatening the survival of our invaluable collections and exhibitions. See some of what's at risk at the:
Some of the Zoo's facilities were built over a half a century ago and are now outdated. In 2006 when a fire in the invertebrate house failed to set off a smoke alarm, we confirmed the severity of the situation. Old sprinkler systems and inadequate fire alarms and smoke detection systems need to be replaced immediately. In addition, habitats throughout the Zoo are no longer modern and must be upgraded so that we're able to provide the highest quality care for the animals who call the National Zoo their home. Basic items like the replacement of the water main leading into the Zoo will ensure all animal habitats have appropriate water levels and pressure. One of the most visited museums in the country is still operating with original heating and cooling systems, installed over 30 years ago and designed to welcome 4 million visitors each year. But today the museum is visited by more than 9 million people and this is putting an enormous strain on the old systems. Add to that the requirements of new exhibitions, which are increasingly interactive and dependent on technology, and the system can no longer do what it was designed to do. The mechanical systems at this Museum need to be replaced. National Museum of Natural History In Dinosaur Hall, one of the star attractions in the National Museum of Natural History, the electrical and heating and cooling systems are inadequate, making it difficult and inefficient to maintain appropriate environmental conditions for both visitors and exhibits. National Museum of African Art In 2005, a skylight began to leak in this mostly underground museum. The leak had to be sealed off with plastic sheeting to protect the interior walls, floors and works of art in the collection. Although it has now been fixed, leaking roofs are a recurring problem in many of the museums in the same underground complex. Museum staff must search the building for unpredictable water leaks, and cover or move any works of art that could be in danger. We've been able to track the problem to the system which regulates humidification, and work is underway overhauling the system in this museum. We need funding to ensure that this does not happen in other museums. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Due to the nature of its construction and design, the Hirshhorn building consumes more energy than any other Smithsonian museum. The façade of the building has developed leaks which have begun to damage the gallery walls and create problems with condensation. Wall insulation and vapor barriers for the entire museum are desperately needed to maintain consistent climate for works of art and become more energy efficient. What millions of visitors don't see are the facilities that store and protect the works of art, scientific specimens, and historical and cultural artifacts that are not on exhibition – out of the 136 million objects in the Smithsonian's world-renowned collections – where scholars conduct research and curators prepare new exhibitions and programs while caring for America's legacy. And just like the museums, these buildings are suffering from outdated mechanical and electrical systems, damage from water leaks, and other serious problems arising from an aging infrastructure. At the Museum Support Center, the largest of these facilities, electrical needs have outgrown the building's capacity. Heating and cooling systems frequently fail. And general lab space for research and conservation is no longer adequate for the work we need to do to bring new exhibitions to life and preserve our artifacts and specimens for the future. |
