Museums in Tacoma to reopen starting Sept. 25
Tacoma’s museums will be begin opening to the public starting Sept. 25 following a lengthy closure due to COVID-19.
The Washington State Historical Society, Tacoma Art Museum, Museum of Glass, LeMay - America’s Car Museum, and Foss Waterway Seaport reopen.
The decision comes after Gov. Jay Inslee released guidance last month allowing for the reopening of museums.
In a joint news release announcing the decision, the museums said they “recommend purchasing tickets online in advance” and that “the decision to reopen comes after thoughtful consideration for the safety of guests, staff, and volunteers, and in accordance with specific protocols established by Washington State, the Department of Labor & Industries, and the Department of Health.”
The release went on to say that protocols include mandated mask-wearing inside buildings, additional sanitizing stations, one-way routes to navigate the museums, enforcement of social distance by monitors and reduced capacities.
The museums also will operate on reduced schedules.
The Museum of Glass and the LeMay will open Sept. 25 with hours Friday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Washington State Historical Society will open Sept. 29 be on a schedule of Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with seniors-only (65 and older) hours Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to noon.
The Tacoma Art Museum will be open Oct. 9 with hours Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum had previously hosted an online exhibit during their closure.
The Foss Waterway Seaport will open Oct. 16 with this schedule: Fridays, 3-7 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sundays,noon to 4 p.m. The Seaport played host to programming from the Tacoma Ocean Fest that can be seen online.
The Tacoma Historical Society Museum announced it would be opening to the public on Sept. 23. Hours will be Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Children’s Museum of Tacoma does not have any plans to open, citing the “hands-on, interactive nature of the galleries.”
This story was originally published September 15, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
