<<<This may or may not be applicable, but there's some research on "do not
feed" signs in zoos. Basically, if you explain to visitors WHY they
shouldn't feed the animals, they're less likely to do it. I guess demands
don't go over well with people trying to have a nice day.>>>

If you explain to the visitors that touching artifacts will leave oils and
dirt which will shorten the life of the artifacts, I think they would be
less likely to touch anything.  In rail museums signs stating" DO NOT
CLIMB ON EQUIPMENT" are prevalent.  This is because of people climbing,
falling and then sueing.  It is interesting how people who complain that
they could not climb on a piece of equipment would be the same ones who
fall and sue.

I think we would be doing ourselves a world of good if we explained the
REAL reason behind the "do not climb" signs:

"We ask that you do not climb on this equipment because visitors such as
yourself have climbed on equipment in the past, and because of their own
carelessness or lack of attention to safety have injured themselves, and
then sued the museum.  This causes insurance premiums to rise, thus
causing admission fees to rise or even causes museums to permanently
close.  We understand that you only want to admire the work of our
ancestors and learn, but as long as the general public continues as a
whole to not take personal responsibility for their actions, we will be
forced to forbid you to climb on this equipment"

I would LOVE to post that sign and just watch the reaction.  If we don't
fight back we will continue to lose our rights and eventually it will be
too risky to even open up our museums.

Rick