The National Museum of Industrial History in Bethlehem plans to open its
doors to visitors this Friday, June 26, with increased safety measures
following over three months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Operating on a limited schedule, the museum will be open 11 a.m. to 4
p.m. Friday through Sunday until further notice.
“We have been incredibly overwhelmed with the support of our community
and patrons during this difficult period. We thank the thousands who
have tuned in online to our virtual offerings and the many of you who
have purchased memberships, made donations, and supported us in various
ways throughout this crisis. We’re excited to get back to doing what we
do best: preserving America’s industrial past and inspiring new
generations of inventors and entrepreneurs.”
The museum has implemented a comprehensive policy to ensure the safety
of patrons, employees, volunteers, and artifacts during the reopening
phase. The new measures follow local, state, and national regulations
and best practices and will allow the museum to offer an educational and
enjoyable experience while maintaining vigilance. In accordance with
Pennsylvania guidelines, the museum will operate at a 50% capacity until
further notice and utilize a timed ticketing system, to allow for
controlled entry to the museum with minimal person-to-person
interaction. Tickets for the museum can be purchased on the museum’s
website at
nmih.org.
The museum has been professionally cleaned and sanitized following CDC
guidelines prior to reopening and reduced hours allow for museum staff
to disinfect between visiting days. Sanitizing stations have been
implemented throughout the museum and touchless soap dispensers have
been installed in the museum’s bathrooms. Signage has been placed
throughout the space to ensure proper social distancing between visitors
and frequently touched areas, such as the museum’s interactive
experiences, have been modified or removed. A Plexiglas barrier has been
mounted at the museum’s front desk and all staff and visitors over the
age of 4 are required to wear masks while inside the museum facilities.
While the museum is operating at a reduced capacity, it will continue
offering programs via its website and social media outlets. The full
list of online offerings, including recordings of previous programs, can
be found at
https://nmih.org/virtualmuseum. The museum is also hosting a
Virtual Summer Camp offering campers behind-the-scenes looks and the
chance to learn from working professionals at top Lehigh Valley
manufacturers like Martin Guitar, B. Braun, and Mack Trucks. More
information on the summer camp and sign-up information can be found at
https://www.nmih.org/educate/2020-engineering-summer-camp/.
