LINCOLN, Neb. – The University of Nebraska State Museum-Morrill Hall reopened yesterday with limited operating hours and timed tickets that must be purchased in advance. Additional restrictions will apply for the safety of visitors, staff and researchers.
Museum Director Susan Weller says hours are 9:30-4:30 Wed-Sat and 12:30-4:30 on Sundays with the last timed tickets at 3:30. Entry is granted during only the first 30 minute of the time slot listed on the ticket to allow for maintenance of museum capacity and social distancing.
All visitors over age 3 are required to wear a face covering. Failure to do so is grounds for ejection with no refund. They’re also asked to follow social-distancing practices of 6 feet. Elephant footprints on the floor in exhibits serve as distancing guides.
The Visible Lab located in Cherish Nebraska will operate Wednesday through Friday on reduced hours with a touchless intercom system.
The Mueller Planetarium and the Marx Discovery Center remain closed as do the mother’s room and 4th-floor exploration drawers in the Cherish Nebraska Science Exploration Zone.
The gift shop will be open to a limited number of visitors at a time from 10:30 to 4:00 daily using a single entrance and one-way exit
Restrooms will be open with one family or social group at a time encouraged, and hand sanitizer stations will be available throughout the museum. While water fountains are off, water bottle filling stations will be available.
Visitors are allowed to bring in their own water bottles, infant bottles, and baby formula but all other food and beverages are prohibited inside the museum. There are picnic tables outside the museum, but visitors are encouraged to social distance while using the picnic area.
A new temporary display is undeniably fitting. “Science Behind the News: Viruses” discusses the biology of viruses such as the coronavirus.