While their arts counterparts thrive, natural-history museums across the country have struggled mightily in recent years, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Huge layoffs have shaken even the most prestigious natural-history museums, such as the Smithsonian Institution’s, and smaller museums, such as The Milwaukee Public Museum, face deficits of millions of dollars. One expert called the overall trend a “20-year retraction.”

Those woes come at a time when many art museums around the country have received record donations and have succeeded in attracting millions of visitors yearly.

The article noted that one possible solution to financial problems at natural-history museums — emulating art museums by promoting big exhibits to draw people in — could actually undermine the research and collection arms of nature museums, which have been especially hard hit.

(Free registration is required to view this article.)