Smithsonian balks at call for entry fee for museums, zoo

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Free admission to the Smithsonian Institution's museums and National Zoo stands out in the District, where everything has its price.

But with deteriorating buildings, a maintenance backlog in the billions and fewer public dollars to spare, one member of Congress says no fees makes no sense.

"I cannot understand why we don't charge a fee," Rep. James P. Moran, Virginia Democrat, said after hearing House testimony about insufficient funds for repairs.

The Smithsonian in its 160-year history has never charged to visit the museums, stocked with displays of everything from dinosaur bones and the Hope Diamond to the original Star-Spangled Banner and thousands of famous airplanes and spaceships.

Officials said they are not about to start charging now.

"We want it so that as many people as possible can come in and see the Smithsonian collections," spokeswoman Becky Haberacker said.

With 24 million visitors last year, asking $1 a head would raise $24 million.

"To fork over $1 for an adult, or 50 cents for a child or senior citizen, is not asking a whole lot," Mr. Moran said.

In New York City, it costs $20 to get into the Museum of Modern Art and $15 is the suggested admission amount at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In the District, the Corcoran Gallery of Art asks $8, and the International Spy Museum takes $15. In Paris, the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay charge about $10 and $9, respectively.