More than 12,000 US museums say ageing buildings threaten collections

More than three quarters of US museums say deteriorating building conditions are placing collections at risk, according to a new federal report that highlights mounting infrastructure problems across the country’s cultural institutions.

The study, conducted by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), found that around 77 per cent of museums — an estimated 12,300 institutions — reported at least one building system or structural issue capable of damaging collections. About 85 per cent, or roughly 13,700 museums, said they faced a backlog of deferred maintenance and repairs.

The findings, based on a survey of approximately 300 museums and 17 site visits across the US and its territories, point to growing concern over ageing infrastructure, limited funding and rising construction costs. Around half of museums surveyed said they faced more than $100,000 in overdue repairs, while 80 per cent expected maintenance backlogs either to persist or worsen over the next three years.

Museums included in the study ranged from small local historical societies to larger institutions, many housed in buildings more than a century old. The report said older structures often struggle with heating, ventilation and climate-control systems needed to preserve fragile objects vulnerable to humidity, temperature fluctuation and water damage.

The GAO also found that approximately 41 per cent of museums were located in areas affected by extreme weather events or natural disasters between 2020 and 2024, including flooding, heatwaves and earthquakes. In some cases, institutions reported storing collections in bathrooms, garages or flood-prone basements because of insufficient or damaged storage facilities.

David Marroni, director of physical infrastructure issues at the GAO, said the scale of the problem reflected the fragmented nature of the US museum sector. “There are thousands of little historical museums all over the place doing interesting stuff,” he said, noting that many operate with limited staff and budgets.

Accessibility and public safety concerns also emerged prominently in the report. Nearly half of museums identified physical accessibility barriers, including inaccessible entrances, stair-only access and uneven flooring. Many buildings predate modern accessibility requirements established under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

About 73 per cent of museums reported at least one building-related issue posing a potential health or safety concern. Respondents cited leaking roofs, mould, outdated wiring and inadequate ventilation systems among the most common problems.

Museum operators said financing repairs remains difficult because federal funding is largely restricted to programmes and services rather than construction. According to the report, around 80 per cent of museums rely on donations and fundraising to cover maintenance costs, a model that smaller rural institutions described as increasingly unsustainable.

The findings arrive as Congress considers the future funding structure of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the federal agency supporting museums and libraries. Although President Donald Trump has repeatedly proposed eliminating the agency, Congress has continued funding it, allocating $291.8m for fiscal year 2026.

The GAO said its report was intended to provide lawmakers with data that could inform future policy decisions on museum infrastructure funding.