I haven't worked on such a partnership, but saw one at F.A.O. Schwarz toy store in Manhattan. The store has a section or two that feature toys designed around/for the American Museum of Natural History, and even has a dinosaur bone on display (I assume it is a real bone) from the museum collection. I was a bit taken aback by this at first, because I hadn't encountered anything like it. But I thought it was a great way for the museum to make some money and to "advertise" while also allowing a prominent toy store to use the museum's name and reputation. The attraction-display moneymaker that I'm always amazed at is the Planet Hollywood restaurant. I don't think a week goes by that I don't see at least two T.V. segments on some stars or other donating stuff from their recent movies... Melanie Solomon Original Message: <<Greetings, <<I am new to this list, and don't know whether I am walking into a minefield of controversy or an area of legitimate interest, but here goes: <<Is anyone on the list actively involved in the development and design of for-profit museum/attractions that function as an adjunct to retail facilities? (E.G. Nike's attraction/store, H.Stern's Gemmological Museum/store in Rio, Mel Fisher's Treasure Display/store in Key West). <<Are these facilities considered heresy in Museum circles? There is no doubt that they seem to be growing in popularity, and are effective marketing tools. <<Thoughts or comments? <<Thanks... <<Greg Stemm <<[log in to unmask]>>