Update 6/10/2020

Richmond area cultural institutions, including museums, attractions and other sites, have released a joint statement as Virginia continues to lift additional COVID-19 restrictions.

The statement, endorsed by 20 cultural institutions in the area, reflects a set of shared values and provides staff, volunteers, and members of the public with a unified response during this challenging moment. Included is a list of shared protocols and safety measures to give visitors a clearer idea of what to expect in the coming weeks and months.

The joint statement reads:

As our Commonwealth enters into Phase 2 and our city prepares to, we want to assure all attendees that we are committed to providing everyone with safe, secure, and supportive access to our facilities. In the midst of a pandemic and a region-wide reassessment of our fraught racial history, we believe our cultural resources play an important role during these uncertain times. While we anticipate most sites will open in some capacity by early July, we will continue to use these shared principles and the facts on the ground to ensure the best experience for our visitors.

Signed,

Agecroft Hall and Gardens

The American Civil War Museum

The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia

The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design

The Children’s Museum of Richmond

Henricus Historic Park

The Institute for Contemporary Art

John Marshall House

The Library of Virginia

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Maymont

The Poe Museum

Preservation Virginia

St. John’s Church Foundation

The Science Museum of Virginia

The Wilton House Museum

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

The Virginia Museum of History & Culture

The Virginia Holocaust Museum

The Valentine

VISITORS & STAFF

• Facemasks will be required of visitors, staff and volunteers (as required by Executive Order), with exceptions for young children.

• Capacity will be reduced to provide guests space to socially distance. In some cases, pre-registration/timed tickets may be required.

• Contactless payment and use of credit/debit card for purchases will be strongly encouraged.

• Social distancing will be required, and may be encouraged with barriers, designated walk routes and additional signage.

• Hand sanitizer and similar options will be available across institutions.

PROGRAMS/EXPERIENCES

• Programming will be temporarily suspended to reduce contact within large groups.

• Alterations or adaptations to hands-on exhibits and experiences will be made to reduce interactions with high-touch surfaces.

CLEANING PROTOCOLS

• Cleaning protocols will be expanded, especially in restrooms and high-touch areas.

Stay tuned for more detailed information on VMHD opening dates! 

Update 3/30/2020

As we continue to react and adapt to the COVID-19 global health and financial crisis, we feel that our institution is uniquely positioned to lead the important work of documenting the impact of this unprecedented and far-reaching emergency in Virginia. As with the great trials of our past, we know it is critical that future generations be able to learn from what we are facing today. Therefore, we are beginning an initiative to document the ways our Commonwealth and its communities have been impacted through personal stories and artifacts.

Please visit VirginiaHistory.org/COVID19Stories to learn about how you can contribute to this important project.   

Update 3/23/2020

The VMHC will remain closed until further notice. We will spread the word, with great enthusiasm, when the time comes for us to welcome you again.

In the meantime, please continue to connect with us at a distance at VirginiaHistory.org/AtHome. Please also consider helping us weather this unprecedented storm by making a donation. We need our community's help now more than ever.  

Update 3/13/2020

As we continue to receive additional guidance from state authorities about COVID-19, we have decided to close the Virginia Museum of History & Culture to the public for the next two weeks (March 14 to March 27). Along with other museums in Richmond and across the Commonwealth, we feel that it is our duty to help prevent any opportunity of this virus spreading. 

The health and well being of our guests, staff and volunteers is a priority, and we appreciate your understanding of these decisions and this disruption. If we are forced to adjust this plan, we will post information here. Thank you. 

Update 3/12/2020

In light of the regional spread of COVID-19 and growing public awareness and concern, the VMHC has made a number of changes to its normal operations. The health and safety of everyone who walks through our doors is always a top priority. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

1. The VMHC remains open as scheduled. However, we are reducing our programming to limit large gatherings of people. As such, guided tours, events, and other programs have been postponed through the end of March. Similarly, all school and group visits have been postponed through the end of March. If there is new information or data available that impacts our hours of operation and activities, we will post that information here.

2. The VMHC employs a cleaning protocol designed to keep our facility as hygienic as possible. However, we are making additional hand sanitizer stations available to guests and staff and undertaking additional cleaning of high-touch areas throughout our campus. These efforts do not take the place of vigilance by our guests. Handwashing is one of the best defenses. Guests are encouraged to wash their hands regularly. If guests, or their family members, are exhibiting any signs of illness – coughing, fever, sneezing, etc. – we ask they postpone their visit.

3. The VMHC is closely monitoring new developments and new guidance from state and other officials. While the VMHC is not a state agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia, should the Governor make any statewide changes related to our work, or direct state agencies like the VMFA or Science Museum of Virginia to close to the public, we plan to follow that direction. If a guest or employee informs us they have tested positive for COVID-19, we will follow the direction of public health officials, which could include closing the museum.

4. We strongly encourage our guests to follow the precautions outlined on the CDC site: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html