(PAOLI) – After being closed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Orange County Historical Society Executive Committee along with the Board of Directors has announced plans to re-open the Orange County Historical Society Museum to visitors on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. beginning on Saturday, July 25.
Admission is free – however, donations are always welcome and appreciated.
The museum is located in the northwest corner of the historic Paoli Town Square.
For now, the museum will only be staffed and open on Saturdays. Other days may be added later depending on COVID-19.
“We will be watching the situation closely as you know it is still very much a volatile situation here. We will operate at 50% capacity and have established new protocols to provide a safe and responsible experience to visitors, staff, and our volunteers,” said Robert F. Henderson, President of the Orange County Historical Society.
Henderson said these protocols include advance registration for group tours, social distancing guidelines, and enhanced sanitizing and cleaning protocols.
“We will be asking staff and visitors alike to wear a face mask upon entering the museum and to practice social distancing throughout the building,” Henderson added. “Hand sanitizers will be available throughout the exhibit areas. We will also be asking visitors to please refrain from touching common surfaces.”
The historic Thomas Elwood Lindley House remains closed.
“We are in the process of putting some final additions in the freshened up and renovated rooms,” Henderson added. “The interior rooms will be undergoing a deep cleaning later this month. We hope to be able to open up the farmhouse at some point soon by appointment on a least on a limited basis. The space restraints in the farmhouse present a bit of a challenge to safely be able to conduct tours with groups of any size that along with being able to properly keep common areas sanitized as recommended.”
For more details on museum operations contact Henderson by email at info@historicorangecounty.com or call 812-653-1212.
