GOLDENDALE, Wash. -- Maryhill Museum south of Goldendale saw attendance rise 17 percent this year, a trend its director suspects is driven by a poor economy spurring people toward affordable diversions.

"I think it's indicative of people staying closer to home and exploring their own backyard," Maryhill Executive Director Colleen Schafroth said in a news release announcing the attendance jump.

"Entertainmentwise, museums offer a great value."

The museum offers a collection including more than 80 Rodin sculptures and ornate objets d'art from the Romanian royal family -- all for less than the price of a movie, Schafroth points out.

Nearly 46,000 people visited between March 15 and Nov. 15 this year.

According to the American Association of Museums, anecdotal evidence suggests a similar trend nationwide.