In the United States, the Government Accountability Office (GAO, the audit, evaluation and investigation body of Congress), published an alarming report last March on the building state of American museums. According to the report, 77% of museums, or approximately 12,300 institutions, believe that an element of their building threatens the collections, and 73% report a risk to the health or safety of visitors and staff.
The situation is all the more worrying as the total cost of necessary repairs nationwide remains unknown, due to a lack of centralized data and resources to conduct in-depth assessments. Only 33% of museums carried out a complete diagnosis of their main building between 2014 and 2024. At the same time, 85% declare a maintenance arrears, and 49% estimate it to be greater than 100,000 dollars (88,000 euros).
The situation also poses problems for health, safety and accessibility. Around 11,900 museums, or 73%, identify at least one potential for health or safety, notably related to heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing or electricity. Accessibility remains a significant obstacle for 59% of establishments: 46% do not have an accessible route to certain indoor public spaces, 29% report unsuitable parking and 26% non-compliant entrances or toilets. The building stock is also very old, since 53% of the main buildings were built before 1923, which complicates and increases the cost of the work.
The conservation mission of museums is also a matter of concern. 41% of museums believe that the state of their air conditioning poses a risk to the collections, while controlling humidity and temperature is essential. Storage spaces are considered unsuitable by 74% of institutions, and the report cites extreme cases where works are kept in bathrooms or basements exposed to flooding. Furthermore, 19% of museums report deterioration of the building envelope, with damaged roofs, walls or windows leading to leaks and mold.
Finally, 41% of museums are in areas affected by a natural disaster or extreme weather event between 2020 and 2024 and 41% do not have a disaster preparedness plan with staff trained to implement it. In Puerto Rico, where GAO conducted field visits, hurricanes, earthquakes, Federal Emergency Management Agency funding delays, and frequent power outages are worsening the decay of historic buildings and promoting mold.
