[Huron County, Ontario] – The Huron County Museum is excited to announce it is ready to re-open its doors starting Saturday, August 1.
Since closing in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Museum staff have been working hard behind the scenes preserving local history, connecting with people in virtual spaces to share unique stories of culture and heritage, and preparing for this day when staff could welcome visitors back to the physical site. In following the advice of public health authorities, the Museum is making every effort to ensure visits back to the site are a safe and enjoyable experience for all. As a result, visits will look a little different from the last time the Museum welcomed visitors through its doors. Visitors can expect the following:
- Museum capacity and hours are limited to enable enhanced safety and cleaning protocols. The Museum will be open Thursday to Sunday, 1:00-4:30 p.m., with the last entrance at 3:45 p.m.
- All visits to the Museum are timed entry to help with physical distancing. Call 519-524-2686 to book a visit. If visitors do not have an appointment, they will only be accommodated as space and time allow.
- According to Huron Perth Public Health guidelines, all visitors are asked to wear a face covering or non-medical mask.
- Visitors are asked to respect physical distancing by maintaining 2 metres from others at all times while visiting the space.
- The Museum’s artifacts cannot be sanitized and should be enjoyed from a distance. As a result, some interactive activities have been removed or will remain closed at this time.
- All visitors will be asked to answer pre-screening questions before entering the building and should visit at another time if feeling unwell.
- The Historic Gaol will remain closed at this time and will re-open in 2021.
“The staff at the Huron County Museum have missed our visitors and are looking forward to welcoming them back to our site safely,” said Elizabeth French-Gibson, Acting Director of Cultural Services and County Librarian. “The site has seemed overly quiet the last few months and we will enjoy the laughter and voices that will echo through our exhibits again.”
In advance of re-opening to the public, the Museum thanks everyone for working collaboratively to help keep the Museum a safe place for all visitors and staff by carefully following all of the guidelines currently in place. The full list of guidelines can be found on the Museum website: www.huroncountymuseum.ca/huron-county-museum
The County of Huron asks all residents and visitors to continue respecting all public health guidelines, including performing hand hygiene, practicing physical distancing, and staying home if feeling ill. Stay informed on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in Huron County by visiting the Huron-Perth Public Health website.