Wenatchee Museum Reopening FAQ
REOPENING STATEMENT
We are eager to welcome our community back into the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center to gather, engage, and educate people to celebrate and preserve the history, arts, sciences, and rich diversity of our region. We’ve been working hard over the past several months to prepare our staff and our building to reopen our doors, and we remain committed to providing safe, engaging, and meaningful experiences for our members and visitors. Our permanent exhibits are closed until December 14. Members and visitors visitors are invited visit the Gift Shop and 90th Anniversary Women Painters of Washington art gallery by appointment.
The Wenatchee Valley Museum will be open five days a week, Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 AM to 4 PM. The museum will be offering limited capacity timed ticketed entry. Reservations may be made on our website at wenatcheevalleymuseum.org or by calling the Museum’s Guest Services at 509-888-6240. The Museum will be following health and safety guidelines issued by the Chelan Douglas Health District and the State of Washington including face masks for visitors over age 2, a “no touch” protocol, regular sanitization, and frequent cleaning.
The Museum is excited to share our new featured exhibit, “Raising Our Voice: Empowering Women”, celebrating the centennial of women’s suffrage in the United States. The exhibit will both educate and celebrate womenâs voices. Our main gallery will feature a historic synopsis of womenâs suffrage in the State along with the 90th anniversary show of Women Painters of Washington. We are honored to welcome our members and guests to join us in celebration of the female voice.
VISITING THE MUSEUM
What should I expect when I visit the museum?
We are happy to welcome you back to the museum. At this time, weâre offering limited services to reduce contact and close interactions to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The safety and health of our patrons and staff is our priority. Thank you for following guidelines and for your patience and flexibility as we move through this time together.
What are the museumâs hours?
We will be open Tuesday â Saturday 10 AM â 4 PM.
What appointments are available?
Reservations may be made for 1 hour visits, available Tuesday – Friday at 10 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 2 PM, and 3 PM, and on Saturday at 10 AM, 11 AM, 12 PM, 1 PM, 2 PM, and 3 PM.
What measures is WVMCC taking to keep patrons safe?
We are taking a number of precautions to limit personal contact and follow social distancing guidelines:
- Limiting the number of patrons in our exhibits based on square footage, with a max capacity of 25%.
- Reducing seating and asking patrons not to congregate in our performance area.
- Providing distance and traffic markers for high traffic areas such as guest services.
- Staff and visitors are required to wear masks, per the Governorâs mandate, inside of the Museum. If you do not have a mask, we will provide disposable masks at guest services.
- Using plexiglass shields at guest services.
- Increasing frequency of cleaning high-touch areas such as hand rails, elevator buttons, and restrooms.
- Providing hand-sanitizing stations throughout the Museum and encouraging frequent hand washing.
- Providing cups at water fountains and discouraging mouth use, and providing bottled water for sale at our gift shop.
- Eliminating hands-on exhibit elements, and replacing them with touchless options, when available.
- Providing touchless payment services at our guest services.
- Providing touchless exhibit guides available by QR code, as well as paper guides that we ask guests to recycle after use.
Please help us keep our staff and others safe by:
- Staying home if youâre experiencing symptoms of any illness.
- Requesting that you please wear a mask in accordance with the Governorâs masking mandate to keep our staff, patrons, and community safe.
- Washing or sanitizing your hands frequently; hand sanitizer stations provided throughout the Museum.
- Maintaining at least six feet of distance from staff and other non-related visitors.
- Respecting social distancing guidelines.
- Following the instructions of Museum staff.
Is there a limit on the number of patrons allowed in the museum?
The museum will be offering limited capacity timed ticketed entry. Reservations may be made on our website at wenatcheevalleymuseum.org or by calling the Museum’s Guest Services at 509-888-6240.
Do I need to wear a mask while Iâm at the museum?
Yes. The Museum is following the Governorâs masking mandate requiring that all staff and patrons wear masks inside the Museum. If you do not have a mask, we will provide disposable masks.
How is WVMCC keeping its staff safe?
Our museum underwent a facility assessment and social distancing review to ensure safe practices for both our staff and our visitors. We provided cloth masks for all staff and require they be worn when traveling throughout the museum, when working with colleagues and during public service interactions. We encourage frequent handwashing and using hand sanitizer between each patron interaction. Workstations have been dispersed throughout our facility, and other high-touch areas will be cleaned frequently throughout the day. Staff are provided with touchless temperature stations, and will stay home if experiencing symptoms of any illness.
FACILITIES
Can I book a rental?
Our rental facilities at the Museum and Wells House are closed until further notice.
What changes can I expect at WVMCC?
Our field trips and/or tours are being offered virtually at this time.. Coyoteâs Corner is closed until further notice. Our permanent exhibits are closed until December 14.
Is Coyoteâs Corner open?
Coyote’s Corner is closed until further notice due to its high touch nature. Look for upgrades when we reopen. Subscribe to our email-newsletter to stay up-to-date on reopening information.
Is the gift shop open?
Yes, our gift shop is open.
WELLS HOUSE
The Wells House remains closed at this time. We are exploring opportunities to safely reopen our historic home closer to the holidays.
EVENTS
Does WVMCC offer online events?
Yes, please see our events calendar at: https://www.wenatcheevalleymuseum.org/events/. Please call or email for information on any additional events. https://www.wenatcheevalleymuseum.org/contact-us/
SUPPORT
How can I support the museum during this time?
Please consider joining us as a member and making a gift to support the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center. Our mission is to gather, engage, and educate people to celebrate and preserve the history, arts, sciences, and rich diversity of our region. Your support makes possible the amazing programs, exhibits and the preservation of our history that is an essential part of our community. Memberships are available online at: https://www.wenatcheevalleymuseum.org/membership/ Your membership with us gives you year-round access to the fun exhibits, events and activities that are happening here. Donations may be made on the museumâs website at: https://www.wenatcheevalleymuseum.org/donate/. WVMCC is a 503c(3) nonprofit organization, and all gifts are tax deductible.