7 Philadelphia Museums Announce Reopening Plans

PHILADELPHIA — Seven museums in Philadelphia have announced plans to reopen with new health and safety protocols for staff and visitors, as state and city restrictions begin to lift.

In a joint announcement, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, the Barnes Foundation, Eastern State Penitentiary, The Franklin Institute, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Rodin Museum said they all plan to reopen.

These institutions have been closed for months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

All museums will require face coverings for visitors and staff, social distancing, and limited capacity.

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For most institutions, advance-reservations are encouraged or required to facilitate contactless transactions, and timed ticketing is in place to control the number of visitors

All public spaces and surfaces cleaned and disinfected throughout the day. Hand sanitizer stations and plexiglass partitions in admissions and other area will be installed

Each cultural institution is determining its own opening date based on internal factors.

Eastern State Penitentiary and the Philadelphia Museum of Art — along with the Rodin Museum — expect to announce reopening dates and hours in the coming weeks. As all institutions continue to follow guidance from the state and city, plans and opening dates are subject to change.

Below are details on each cultural institution’s opening dates and special exhibitions on view. Opening dates for Eastern State Penitentiary, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Rodin Museum will be announced later.

The Franklin Institute — opening Wednesday, July 8

• Open hours: Wednesdays–Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (entry to the building ends at 4 p.m.)
• Exhibit: The Presidents by Madame Tussauds (July 8 to Jan. 3, 2021)

The Barnes Foundation — opening: Saturday, July 25

• Member previews are being held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 23 and Friday, July 24, as well as from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 25.
• Hours will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Monday; 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. is reserved for members only.
• Exhibit: Marie Cuttoli: The Modern Thread from Miro to Man Ray (through Aug. 23)

Academy of Natural Sciences — opening Friday, July 31

• Member previews will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, July, 23, Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26.
• Public hours will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Member only hours will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Exhibit: Survival of the Slowest (through Oct. 25)

PAFA — opening from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12

• Previews for members and essential frontline workers (Historic Landmark Building) will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3 and Friday, Sept. 4, as well as 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5 and Sunday, Sept. 6.
• Public hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The PAFA is reserving 10 a.m. to noon for visitors who are at a higher risk for contracting illnesses, including immunocompromised persons.