Dunn Museum reopens with limited hours

LIBERTYVILLE – The Bess Bower Dunn Museum reopened Feb. 13 with limited hours, online timed ticketing and COVID-19 safety measures.

“We are following CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines and those outlined in Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan to ensure the safety and health of our visitors and employees and the entire community,” Director of Education Nan Buckardt said in a news release. “Modifications have been made throughout the galleries and gift shop to minimize touch points and support social distancing,”

Modified hours are 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Visitation time slots are available from 10 to 11:30 a.m., noon to 1:30 p.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m. The galleries and gift shop will be closed between time slots for cleaning and disinfecting.

To ensure safety for visitors and employees and to maintain the 25% maximum capacity set by the state, timed entry tickets will be sold online. Buckardt said 35 people will be allowed to visit per time slot through a combination of 25 timed entry tickets available for purchase online and 10 tickets available for purchase at the door. Only credit card payments will be accepted. Go online to LCFPD.org/MuseumTickets to purchase timed entry tickets.

Each gallery has signs posted and cameras in place so employees can monitor and enforce capacity limits.

If you become sick or feel unwell after making your reservation, call the Dunn Museum at 847-367-6640 or go to FrontDeskStaff@LCFPD.org so that your reserved time can be made available for another visitor.

If you are sick or don’t feel well, stay home.

All visitors (except children 2 and younger) are required to wear face masks in accordance with Illinois Public Health Department guidelines. All visitors must follow social-distancing rules by maintaining 6 feet or more between nonhousehold individuals or other visitor groups at all times. Wash and sanitize hands frequently during your visit and practice good hygiene. Hand-sanitizing stations are available throughout the facility. There are COVID-19 signs and directions throughout the facility reinforcing social distancing rules, wearing masks and hand-washing and hygiene procedures.

A new one-way path through the gift shop and galleries is marked, and all seating areas have been modified to accommodate social distancing.

Browse the gift shop with your eyes. If you are interested in purchasing a product, gloves are available to use at the front desk. Only credit card payments will be accepted.

Protective safety shields have been installed at the registers. Operating procedures have been enhanced to incorporate CDC and Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines for frequent and thorough cleaning and sanitation of public spaces. Deep cleaning of all surfaces will occur on days when the Dunn Museum is closed.

Dunn Museum employees will stay home when sick, wear masks, maintain social distancing, and wash hands and practice good hygiene.

All public educational programs, including the USG Free Thursday Night programs, will continue to take place virtually until further notice. Visit LCFPD.org/calendar for dates and details, or follow @LCFPD on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Virtual field trips, school programs and group guided programs or lectures are available for booking. Visit LCFPD.org/schools for details, or email AskAnEducator@LCFPD.org.

Research requests from the Lake County History Archives and Collections will continue to be fulfilled remotely. Visit LCFPD.org/collections for details.