Museum of Discovery Set to Reopen June 23

Little Rock, Ark. (June 8, 2020) – The Museum of Discovery announced today that it will reopen to the public on Tuesday, June 23. The Little Rock-based science center has been closed due to COVID-19 precautions since March 15.

The museum will be following directives from the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) as well as implementing additional policies to ensure the safety of its guests and staff. These include:

• Proper face coverings for all staff, volunteers and guests older than 10 years of age. Face masks will be available for purchase for guests who need them.
• Limiting crowd size to less than the one-third capacity per the ADH directive
• Implementing social distancing
• Increased cleaning and sanitization
• Additional hand sanitizer stations throughout the museum
• Signage to reinforce social distancing and ADH directives
• Temperature checks for all staff and volunteers before entering the museum
• Temporarily closing exhibits and spaces that may be especially high-touch or difficult to allow social distancing or sanitization
• Advanced safety procedure training for staff and volunteers

In-person summer camps will begin Monday, June 22 following ADH directives and additional museum safety procedures as well.

“We are thrilled we can again welcome guests to the Museum of Discovery after a three-month hiatus,” said Kelley Bass, museum CEO. “Our policies have been created in accordance with ADH mandates, and we are confident our guests will have an educational, enjoyable and safe experience at the museum. We thank everyone for their patience and our staff for its continued work in support of our museum’s mission.”

During its closure, Museum of Discovery is undergoing building improvements, cleanings and installations that will assist in ongoing sanitization efforts such as the:

• Installation of hospital-grade air filters throughout the building
• Assessment of each exhibit to create detailed cleaning procedures and schedules
• Installation of UV lights in all air ducts to destroy airborne viruses, bacteria and pollutants
• Installation of plexiglass shields to the admissions and Explore Store desks

Additionally, the museum has purchased equipment, such as an industrial electrostatic disinfectant sprayer, that will make cleaning spaces such as its early childhood gallery,” Room to Grow”, easier, less time-consuming and more effective.

The science center also announced that it will extend all memberships an additional three months and will lengthen the stay of “Dinosaurs: Fossils Exposed,” its featured exhibition, through the end of the year. The exhibition was originally scheduled to close in July.

For more information, visit www.museumofdiscovery.org.

About Museum of Discovery

Founded in 1927, Museum of Discovery is the state’s oldest museum.

Museum of Discovery’s mission is to ignite and fuel a passion for science, technology, engineering, arts and math through dynamic, interactive experiences.

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