Sen. John C. Danforth’s vision of developing a brilliant cultural institution housed in a world class piece of architecture as a companion to the Gateway Arch has centered on the idea of a national museum of migration.

I believe there is logic to the museum idea (although I have other ideas). Now comes the Economist with a caution about problems experienced elsewhere with flashy new museums. The money quote:

“Sustainability is the new buzzword,” explains Javier Pes, editor of Museum Practice, a journal published by the Museums Association. Wealthy private donors have been happy enough to contribute large sums in exchange for a glamorous new wing named after them. But donations tend to ebb after the museum reopens, and directors need to find other ways to pull in tourists after the initial excitement wears off, such as pricey blockbuster shows. Operating costs go up.

In Denver, for example, where Daniel Libeskind designed a new $110m building for the art museum, an initial boom of visitors in 2006 has waned, and budget constraints have forced the museum to cut staff.