Follow-Up to the Museum Mile Festival Post

From the article "10 Things Museums Won't Tell You" in the July 2008 issue of SmartMoney:

Bruce Altshuler, director of New York University's program in museum studies, says it's becoming more difficult to find that quiet, contemplative experience people associate with a museum trip. "Many museums are too crowded to provide a certain kind of aesthetic experience," he says. At special exhibitions in particular, it's often so packed that it's hard to see what's on display, leading frustrated visitors to skip parts of the exhibit. Large crowds also lead to safety and security issues. Museums are especially concerned about having to evacuate visitors quickly in the event of an emergency, says Steve Keller, who runs a Florida-based security firm that specializes in museums.