The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation remains closed in response to the coronavirus, but anticipates Jamestown Settlement and American Revolution Museums at Yorktown to reopen as the state enters Phase 2 reopening.
As the museums reopen June 24, several adjustments are being made to operations and access to outdoor living-history areas and gallery exhibits to allow visitors to enjoy the museums while following social-distancing protocols, according to a news release from the foundation.
In addition to enhanced cleaning protocols, adjustments to museum operations include:
- Masks will be required indoors and encouraged in outdoor public spaces for visitors and staff.
- Social distancing, of at least 6 feet, is encouraged between guests, individual family groups and staff. Informational videos and signage throughout the museums will reinforce protective protocols and help inform visitor decisions.
- In the outdoor living-history areas, capacity in the re-created buildings and structures, including access to one of the three ships, will be limited to a certain number of visitors at a time. Signage will indicate the number of visitors allowed at one time.
- In the indoor exhibition galleries, use of interactive touch screens will be prohibited, following guidelines outlined in phase two of reopening Virginia.
- Capacity in the museum theater and gallery films will be limited to a certain number of guests at a time.
- Plexiglass shields will be in place in front of registers and public-facing counters and cash registers in the visitor services areas, gift shops and museum cafes.
- Additional hand-sanitizing stations will be available throughout museums to supplement handwashing.
- Maintain increased efforts to disinfect high-touch areas including surfaces, doorknobs and stairwells, in both the exhibition galleries and outdoor living-history areas.
- The museums’ indoor galleries and films will be open with limited capacities from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Aug. 15. Outdoor living-history areas are accessible for visitors from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
All employees will also receive advance training on safety protocols and social-distancing procedures developed to protect themselves and museum visitors, based on guidance from government and public health officials.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone back to our museums,” said Christy S. Coleman, executive director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. “The past few months have allowed us to think deeply about our work, listen intently and affirm our commitment to serve our communities in a safe and healthy environment with impactful and meaningful experiences about our shared history.”
The foundation will announce additional reopening details soon, including plans for summer programming and special events.
For more information, visit historyisfun.org/update.
The foundation and its museums have been closed to the public since March 14, with staff teleworking during the closure.
The agency implemented cost-saving measures in April to mitigate expected losses in earned revenues in the current fiscal year 2020 budget, as well as to address unknowns in the fiscal year 2021 budget.
Among the measures were the temporary furlough of 221 part-time staff beginning April 26 and a temporary workforce reduction, of 4 to 30 working days, for 152 full-time staff beginning June 1.
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