Amid COVID-19 Outbreak, Penn Museum Temporarily Closes
PHILADELPHIA – Based on recommendations from the University of Pennsylvania and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, the Penn Museum announced today that it will temporarily close at the end of the business day, Friday, March 13, 2020.
The Museum plans to remain closed through at least April 17, but will continue to monitor the landscape regarding the COVID-19 outbreak. It will reopen its doors to the public as early as its possible to do so, while simultaneously keeping everyone safe.
“The health and safety of our community is our top priority,” said Dr. Julian Siggers, Williams Director of the Penn Museum. “The Museum’s mission is to transform understanding of the human experience by bringing people together. However, in the best interests of our guests and staff, temporarily closing is the right thing to do.”
While the Museum’s housekeeping staff regularly cleans the galleries and public spaces, it has increased its efforts by cleaning and sanitizing common areas multiple times each day with an EPA-approved, hospital-grade disinfectant. Commonly touched surfaces, such as doorknobs and handles, railings, and elevator buttons will continue to be disinfected frequently when the time comes for the Museum to safely reopen its doors. When it does, the Museum looks forward to welcoming everyone back to explore its springtime events, exhibitions, and galleries, which are open to all.
In the meantime, the Penn Museum welcomes everyone to explore its website and social media content, including its online collections and lectures. The website will be updated daily.
For the latest updates, please check the Penn Museum’s website or its response to COVID-19.
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About the Penn Museum
The Penn Museum’s mission is to be a center for inquiry and the ongoing exploration of humanity for our University of Pennsylvania, regional, national, and global communities, following ethical standards and practices.
Through conducting research, stewarding collections, creating learning opportunities, sharing stories, and creating experiences that expand access to archaeology and anthropology, the Museum builds empathy and connections across diverse cultures
The Penn Museum is open Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00 am-5:00 pm. It is open until 8:00 pm on first Wednesdays of the month. The Café is open Tuesday-Thursday, 9:00 am-3:00 pm and Friday and Saturday, 10:00 am-3:00 pm. On Sundays, the Café is open 10:30 am-2:30 pm. For information, visit www.penn.museum, call 215.898.4000, or follow @PennMuseum on social media.