PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia’s largest museums are wasting no time reopening now that the state’s closure order has been lifted.
The four major Parkway museums all plan to open this week: the Franklin Institute on Wednesday; the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation and the Academy of Natural Sciences on Friday.
Franklin president Larry Dubinski said the institute has been planning for reopening since the second shutdown in November.
“It was a tough six weeks to be closed, usually our busiest time of the year around the holiday season. We were fortunate, again because of the planning that had started, we did not need to incur any further staff reductions at this time,” Dubinski said.
Also opening Friday is the Museum of the American Revolution in Old City. The Mütter Museum plans to open on Jan. 15, and the Academy of the Fine Arts plans to open on Jan. 21. Eastern State Penitentiary will stay closed until March.
Vice president Brett Bertolino said it makes sense for them.
“January and February are our lowest attendance months of the year so it really didn’t make sense for an outdoor attraction like Eastern State, we thought, to try and reopen in the winter. So we made the decision to wait a little while. Spring is always a busy time for us. We’ll have new exhibits to unveil,” Bertolino said.
The National Constitution Center hasn’t announced a reopening date yet.
All the museums emphasized safety precautions will be in place, including a requirement for masks.
Additional information is below:
Public opening: Wednesday, Jan. 6, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Regular hours:
Wednesday – Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, with the exception of Monday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Public opening: Friday, Jan. 8, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
"Permian Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs" opens Jan. 8.
Regular hours:
Friday – Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., with members-only from 10 – 11 a.m. each day. Monday, Jan. 18, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., with members-only from 10 – 11 a.m.
Public opening: Friday, Jan. 8, through Monday, Jan. 11, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Additional opening day: Thursday, Jan. 14, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Extended hours: Friday, Jan. 15, and Saturday, Jan. 16, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Regular hours:
Friday – Monday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (10 – 11 a.m. members-only hour)
"Elijah Pierce’s America" extended through Jan. 18.
Public opening: Friday, Jan. 8, 10 a.m. – 8:45 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 9, through Monday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Pay-what-you-wish: Friday, Jan. 15, 10 a.m. – 8:45 p.m.
Rodin Museum: A spring reopening will be announced at a later date.
Public opening: Friday, Jan. 15, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Regular hours:
Thursday – Monday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays until further notice.
Public opening: Friday, Jan. 8
Resuming regular hours of Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Public opening: Thursday, Jan. 7, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.