Raleigh museum struggles to survive during pandemic shutdown
Across the country, the pandemic has many museums on the edge of closing for good. After six months with few or no tours with paying visitors, their financial losses are piling up.
Posted — Updated"House museums, in particular, have a had trouble for a long time," Hubbard said.
Hubbard said she is thankful for the support of community volunteers and for some financial relief.
"We were very fortunate," she said. "We received a paycheck protection program loan, which ran out at the end of June."
That financial support is now up, and Hubbard said the museum had to furlough one employee during the pandemic.
She and her staff are now preparing for when visitors can once again safely spend a day of leisure on the historic grounds.
"We want to be able to tell these stories," said Hubbard. "So that when we do come back, we’re going to come back stronger than ever."
Most recently, new research has shown that the original color of the Lane home was most likely red. The new paint color could bring old visitors back, if the museum wasn't closed.
The Joel Lane Museum House gift shop is still open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Be sure to wear a mask and practice social distancing when you are there.
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