Museums in southeast Iowa waiting off on reopening

Though museums in Iowa were given the go-ahead to reopen beginning Memorial Day Weekend, many in southeast Iowa are choosing to remain closed or to take tours by appointment only in response to health concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

For Dave Stoufer, who owns the building in which the Washington County Military Museum is housed, the closures have meant breaking a tradition that has gone on for over two decades.

'This is the first Memorial Day in around 25 years that I did not spend the entire day at the museum and I miss it,” he said.

The 79-year-old, who has respiratory issues, explained he and other members of the board have been very cautious with COVID-19 and do not have plans to reopen the museum for the foreseeable future. The board is on even higher alert following the passing of one of their longtime active members.

'A lot of the people involved in the museum are around the same age and in the same high risk categories. We don't want to jeopardize anyone's health to come together in a small place, which is why we decided not to do anything for Memorial Day,” he added.

The Lewelling Quaker Museum, located in Salem, is facing a similar issue. Dave Helman, the museum board's president, said 'all of the docents but one” who work at the museum are seniors.

Because the museum is included on the National Park Service Registry and considered an official stop of the Underground Railroad, during the summer (the museum's busiest season), Salem often sees travelers from all across the country. Last year, the museum had visitors come from 37 different states, Helman noted.

'That's one of our biggest concerns. We want to accommodate these travelers, especially if they've come from a place like California, but we're also trying to protect their health and the health of our docents,” the board president added.

Following a meeting on Monday, the board has currently decided to provide tours by appointment only, capped at six people per tour group. Visitors are strongly encouraged to wear face masks. Helman said docents can choose whether they want to provide tours.

The Carnegie Historical Museum in Fairfield will most likely not see any visitors until July, at the earliest.

Museum director Mark Shafer said the museum's board has yet to discuss the details of what a reopening would look like. Some preliminary plans include providing hand sanitizer and encouraging guests to wear face masks and possibly even closing access to the restrooms.

'We haven't talked about it yet,” Shafer said.

But even though the museum is currently closed to patrons, Shafer said staff and volunteers have been hard at work updating and improving exhibits.

'We've used this COVID shut down to tear the dickens out of this place. It's going to have a new look. It'll feel like a familiar place but will have refinements and additions - a fresh configuration,” Shafer said.

Other improvements the museum hopes to finish before reopening their doors include a revamp of their elevator as well as touching up their entrance in a collaboration with Indian Hills Community College.

'I'm excited for people to be back here once we can open up again,” Shafer added.