National WWI Museum and Memorial to reopen with measures in place against COVID-19
The National WWI Museum and Memorial announced Wednesday that it will reopen in June with measures in place to protect visitors and staff from COVID-19.
One of the measures will limit visitors to one of two timed sessions each day to cap the number of people inside the museum at any time at slightly more than 300, said Mike Vietti, director of marketing, communications and guest services.
The museum opens to members on June 1 and the general public on June 2. The two sessions are from 10 am. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. each day. The Liberty Memorial tower, Ellis Gallery and the Edward Jones Research Center, however, will remain closed.
“We have monitored the COVID-19 situation closely during the past few months and, in accordance with guidance from public health officials at the local, state and federal levels, we are ready to reopen America’s official WWI Museum and Memorial,” said Matthew Naylor, president and CEO of the National WWI Museum and Memorial, in a news release.
“We’ve spent considerable time developing a comprehensive reopening plan that allows for people to visit one of the world’s great museums and memorials in a safe and welcoming environment.”
Dr. Rex Archer, director of health at the Kansas City Health Department, said he had many concerns about each establishment reopening during the pandemic.
“We see people everywhere without masks, standing close together, and already acting like COVID-19 is a thing of the past. It is not,” Archer said. “If it were up to us, we’d open the National WWI Museum only to those who fought in WWI (1914-1918) and keep everyone else away from that vulnerable population.
“Of course, I say that tongue-in-cheek, knowing it will never be implemented and that there are few WWI veterans still with us. We hope, though, that it emphasizes the urgent protection we must provide older adults and those with compromised immune systems. The number of museum visitors should be small and kept at a distance; they should be wearing face masks, and the museum sanitized all day.”
Museums were permitted to reopen as of May 15 under Kansas City’s “10-10-10” guidelines, Mayor Quinton Lucas’ spokeswoman, Morgan Said, said in an email.
In addition to limiting visitors to the timed sessions, the museum has made other safety adjustments due to the coronavirus including:
▪ Encouraging museum goers to buy their tickets online in advance at theworldwar.org.
▪ Increasing the frequency of cleaning, installing hand-sanitizing stations throughout the museum and adopting “no-touch” measures such as hands-free door openers and touch-free waste containers.
▪ Requiring staff and volunteers to wear face masks at all times in public places. Visitors are encouraged, but not required, to wear masks.
Some amenities will not be available, including the checking of coats and backpacks, the complimentary use of wheelchairs and scooters, and water fountains. Visitors will be able to use audio guides, but without headphones or by bringing their own.
For the upcoming Memorial Day holiday, the museum has scheduled three events, none open to the public, that will stream Monday at theworldwar.org/memorialday.
They include a ceremony honoring Americans who died in service to their country at 10 a.m., a bell-tolling at noon and a Walk of Honor brick dedication at 2 p.m.
This story was originally published May 20, 2020 at 2:19 PM.
