One of Washington's new high-priced museums is lowering its admission fee in response to the economic slowdown.

Beginning Thursday, the Madame Tussauds wax museum will cut its admission price from $21.15 to $18 for adults. The price for children will be reduced from nearly $16 to $12.

There will be even bigger discounts for Washington-area residents, with prices lowered to $13 for adults and $9 for children ages 12 and under. The regional discount applies to residents of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

Museum officials say they want to make it easier for people to visit exhibits that include lifelike figures of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Hollywood stars and other Washington celebrities.

Tussauds cited the increasing cost of fuel and food, as well as consumer opinion on acceptable prices in the Washington tourism market.