The Milwaukee Public Museum will reopen to the public on Friday, August 21. Fun! Enjoy it before the museum makes a permanent move in the near future!

There’ll be some pandemic-era changes, of course. First of all, masks and social distancing will be required. Second of all, visitors will be “guided through Museum space via one-way paths and several exhibits and public spaces will be closed,” a la the Milwaukee Art Museum. Visitors will have to reserve a “one-time entry ticket for a specific block of time up to 14 days prior to visiting the Museum.” Oh, and folks will have to enter at the Wells Street entrance and exit through the MacArthur Square parking garage.

Tickets and member reservations (MPM opens a week earlier, August 13, for members) can be made online beginning Thursday, August 6. Here’s the full press release:

Milwaukee Public Museum to Reopen to the Public on August 21
Museum members and donors to receive early access

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. (August 3, 2020)—The Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM) will reopen its doors to the public on Friday, August 21. In recognition of the Museum’s August Member and Donor Appreciation Month, MPM members and donors will receive access to MPM’s exhibits a week earlier, on August 13.

“We’re excited to welcome people back to the Museum,” said Dr. Ellen Censky, President and CEO, Milwaukee Public Museum. “Though visits in this first phase of reopening may look a little different, we are excited to offer new and unique ways to safely connect our visitors to nature and culture.”

During the Museum’s first phase of opening, and in line with current local and statewide mandates, masks will be required. Additionally, visitors will be guided through Museum space via one-way paths and several exhibits and public spaces will be closed. To supplement available exhibits, MPM has enabled free WiFi for visitors and will be rolling out new monthly programming videos tied to various exhibits.

In order to maintain safe social distancing, all visitors will be required to reserve a one-time entry ticket for a specific block of time up to 14 days prior to visiting the Museum. Signage and floor decals in public areas and elevators will remind visitors of social distancing guidelines. All visitors will enter at the Wells Street entrance and exit via the MacArthur Square parking garage to avoid cross traffic.

“The safety of our staff and visitors is our highest priority,” said Dr. Censky. “As we carefully and cautiously welcome visitors back to MPM, we look forward to providing members, visitors, and the community with new, innovative ways to encounter our collections.”

Tickets and member reservations can be made online starting Thursday, August 6. Museum members are required to create a new account online beforehand to receive their benefits, while visitors are asked to create one in order to receive special promotions like the Milwaukee County resident discount.

For more information on what to expect from your first visit back since MPM’s March 15 closure, or to purchase tickets, go to www.mpm.edu.

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