One year ago today…

March 16, 2020.

The Museum closed in response to the Governor’s direction. We thought it would be for three weeks.

Three weeks came and went. Summer came and went. Labor day passed.

October 15, 2020 we were able to open with a new approach to hands-on learning. In addition to new protocols for what hands-on learning looked in a pandemic context, we developed and launched a whole new set of cleaning practices for the safety of our staff and visitors. Those included sanitizing interactives between use, constant sanitization of high-touch points throughout the day and fogging the facility with medical grade disinfectant after public use.

Since October 15, there have been 81 days where we have been privileged to hear and see the sounds of learning through play within the Museum walls. As of yesterday, 2,002 caregivers and kids have ventured out, masks and social distancing in mind, and returned to exploring their way and at their pace. In any other year, that number would be closer to 24,000 by this day.

We are happy to back in the business of creating curious kids after such a long, weary, challenging year. We look forward to continue serving people, whether that’s 2,000 or 24,000 in the coming days, months and years

After all – a children’s museum is nothing without children.