MY favorite example of mishandling of museum objects occured at the Wexner
Center in Columbus, Ohio.  A group of college age students couldn't resist
the temptation provided by a large, wall mounted canvas with a 20 lb. stone
suspended by a rope, resting in it's center.  They pulled the stone back
and let it fall with a resounding thud and happily walked off, very pleased
with their cleverness.

One theory I've heard to explain such behavior blames the fairly recent
invention of the touchy-feely, interactive science museum format.