Regular hours going forward will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is free, but donations are welcomed.
The research library will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays by appointment only.
“It will feel so much better having people coming through those doors again,” said Roger Sherrock, Heritage Center CEO. “We are going to be a safe environment people can spend an hour-and-a-half to two hours in.”
While many other area museums and tourist attractions reopened in June or July following Gov. Mike DeWine’s approval, the Heritage Center had to wait a bit longer. The facility had to do an HVAC system replacement. The upgrade was originally scheduled for March through May but delayed until early June.
Sherrock said the summer heat meant temperatures in the building reached the 90s some days as most staff worked from home due to the stifling temperatures. Now complete, the new $250,000 HVAC system will keep staff and visitors comfortable year-round.
The previous year was also challenging for the Heritage Center. An April 2019 pipe burst led to extensive water damage and months of restoration work. Then just as things were finally complete, the coronavirus pandemic hit.
Visitors will be expected to practice pandemic safety protocols, with signs around the facility reminding to keep social distance and to not touch items. They will be required to wear a mask or they will be provided one for admittance and have their temperatures taken on arrival.
Sherrock requests that groups hold themselves to 10 people or fewer. Volunteers and docents, eager to return to work, will be on hand to help, he said.
Like many other organizations during the lockdown, the Heritage Center ramped up online programming and activities led by curator of library and archives Natalie Fritz. Every other Wednesday there were themed programs such as back to school.
“It was a good way to give people access to our collection although we were closed,” Sherrock said.
There are no events currently planned, though Sherrock said there are a lot of things in process. Although the traditional SantaLand won’t occur this year, there will be holiday decorations and lights in coordination with the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau’s plans.
The pandemic and its cost will continue to play a major role in what happens at the museum.
Like other arts organizations and museums, the closure has meant fewer financial donations. Sherrock estimated the annual $10,000 in visitor donations will only amount to $3,000 to $4,000 this year.
Sherrock said he reached out to the neighboring COHatch to spread the word of the reopening as it’s been a popular local destination since its opening.
“It has been a very unusual time trying to run a public event space, but I think we’re ready. We hope the people will come to visit, just not too many too fast,” he said.
For more information on the Heritage Center, check out its social media pages.
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