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After more than three month closure, Museum of Life and Science welcomes back visitors

The Museum of Life and Science reopened Tuesday to museum members, more than three months after it closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Museum of Life and Science reopens to members
By
Sarah Lindenfeld Hall
, Go Ask Mom editor
DURHAM, N.C. — The Museum of Life and Science reopened Tuesday to museum members, more than three months after it closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome visitors back to the museum,” said Matt Pusateri, the museum’s senior director of marketing. “It’s been a long wait, but we are thrilled to reopen our doors and let guests enjoy a great day out at the Museum.”

Only a portion of the museum is open—the train, the Dinosaur Trail, the Farmyard, the Sailboat Pond, and Explore the Wild, which includes the habitats of the lemurs, red wolves, and bears. The museum also offers miles of walking paths. Other outdoor attractions and all of the indoor exhibits remain closed.

While the museum was closed, staffers sought the advice of public health experts and agencies and revamped the visitor experience to make it safer for guests and workers during the ongoing pandemic. Changes include the construction of new admissions areas that allow for more physical distancing, online reservations and ticketing systems, new touchless faucets and soap dispensers across campus, the installation of hand sanitization stations around the Museum, revamped café seating and ordering systems, new cleaning and sanitization procedures for both indoor and outdoor exhibits, and new mask requirements for staff and guests.

Here's a look at what the museum looked like Tuesday as visitors returned:

Courtesy: Museum of Life and Science
Courtesy: Museum of Life and Science
Courtesy: Museum of Life and Science
Courtesy: Museum of Life and Science
The museum announced last week that it planned to reopen to museum members for now. In June, it announced plans to hold in-person camps in July and August and also offer at-home programs for kids.

Museum leaders hope to welcome general admission visitors back to the museum and reopen more of its exhibits soon, once guidance from health officials suggests that it is safe to do so, according to the press release.

More information about the museum's reopening, including details about the updates the museum has made, is on the museum's website.

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