Smithsonian Lends Items to 146 Institutions

For a $2,500 annual fee, museums can borrow the Apollo 13 space capsule, a 1969 Kermit the Frog Muppet, or the top hat worn by President Abraham Lincoln the night he was assassinated, reports The Washington Post.

Through a loan program, the Smithsonian Institution has permitted 146 museums and cultural organizations to exhibit the museum’s artifacts and pieces.

The program is beneficial for both parties, the newspaper says: The Smithsonian doesn’t have to store so many items and earns some money, while local museums may see jumps in attendance when they display the nationally recognized treasures. Local museums pay all the costs associated with displaying the items.

The Smithsonian owns about 136 million objects, of which 99 percent are in storage.