Discusses procedures for the evaluation of some of the earthquake damage mitigation methods in use or under development at the J. Paul Getty Museum. Generic models for various categories of objects have been formulated and analytical techniques have been devised that allow the assessment of the susceptibility of objects to rocking, overturning, sliding, and stress failure when subjected to earthquake-induced forces. Failure criteria are discussed and examples of categories of mechanical methods for reducing transmitted forces are given. Experimental verification of some of the analytical formulations has been carried out on object models using sine, swept sine, and simulated earthquake accelerogram inputs to laboratory-scale shake tables. The concepts and procedures described are generally applicable to other museums and cultural heritage repositories.