Worcester's Major Museums Reopen After Coronavirus Closures

WORCESTER, MA — Two major Worcester museums are reopening this week for the first time in months following closures during the first wave of the coronavirus last spring.

The Worcester Art Museum and Worcester Historical Museum are taking a variety of safety precautions for guests as Worcester remains on the list of "high-risk" communities for coronavirus spread — and as health officials try to ward off a "twindemic" this winter as flu season enters the mix.

The Worcester Historical Museum reopened on Sept 26 with limited hours and by appointment only. The Worcester Art Museum will reopen to members on Thursday, and then to the wider public on Oct. 7.

The EcoTarium was the first major local museum to reopen to the public in August. But the natural history center shut down on Sept. 4 due to financial strain.

Worcester Art Museum patrons will need to adhere to standard safety guidelines like wearing masks and social distancing. The museum is also instituting one-way traffic flow through much of the building starting at the Salisbury Street entrance. There will also be capacity limits for each gallery, spokeswoman Julieane Frost said Wednesday. Patrons will have to buy a ticket in advance before visiting the museum.

Some usual features won't be available, like the café and docent-led tours. The museum gift shop will be open by appointment only.

The Worcester Historical Museum is now open only three days per week for four hours. The adjacent Salisbury Mansion will stay closed.

"Since many may still be hesitant to resume once 'normal' activities, we will continue to bring you content online for your enjoyment," the Worcester Historical Museum wrote of the reopening.

Museums across Massachusetts were allowed to reopen when the state entered phase three of the reopening plan in July. MASS MoCA in North Adams and the Museum of Fine Arts are both open, also with advance-ticket requirements.

On Tuesday, Gov. Charlie Baker said he would allow certain communities to advance to the second part of phase three of the state's reopening plan. That will include the reopening of performance venues, fitting rooms and arcades. Museums and gyms will be allowed to increase capacity.

Worcester will not be allowed to advance to the second part due to the high-risk status. City officials have also announced that restaurants will not be allowed to increase capacity due to the risk level. Baker on Monday allowed seating capacity to increase at restaurants across the state.

Meanwhile, the statewide rolling seven-day average rate of positive COVID-19 tests crept back to 1 percent on Tuesday, and the number of COVID-19 patients in ICUs is at its highest since July 4.

If you visit...

Worcester Art Museum
55 Salisbury St.
Wednesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (8 p.m. on Thursdays)
Tickets must be purchased in advance

Worcester Historical Museum
30 Elm St.
Thursday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.