Smithsonian museums ban selfie sticks

WASHINGTON, March 3 (UPI) -- The Smithsonian has banned the use of selfie sticks in all of its museums in Washington.

"For the safety of our visitors and collections, the Smithsonian prohibits the use of tripods or monopods in our museums and gardens," the Smithsonian said in a statement. And effective starting Tuesday, "monopod selfie sticks are included in this policy."

The Smithsonian institutions include the African American History and Culture Museum, the African Art Museum, the Air and Space Museum, the American Art Museum, the American History Museum, the American Indian Museum, the Freer Gallery of Art, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the National Zoo, the Natural History Museum and the Portrait Gallery.

The National Gallery of Art and the Phillips Collection in Washington have also banned the use of selfie sticks. Museums in New York, Los Angeles and Boston have joined the Washington museums in the ban.

The Smithsonian still encourages selfies to document experiences but requires visitors to shoot them through more traditional methods.