Back to Business

Dallas' Perot Museum pauses plans to reopen after COVID-19 shutdown

Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science will reopen to the public on July 9, with member-only days July 6-8.

Photo by Mark Knight Photography

UPDATE: Given the spike in COVID-19 cases in Dallas County and the rollback of the state’s phased reopening, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science has decided to pause plans to reopen in early July, it announced June 29. Perot Museum leaders say they will work in close coordination with the other museums in Downtown Dallas — including the Dallas Holocaust Museum and Human Rights Museum, Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, Crow Museum of Asian Art, and The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza — to evaluate when they will reopen to the public.

---

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science will reopen on Thursday, July 9, becoming the first major Dallas museum to do so amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Naturally, the museum will reopen with new public-health protocols and ticketing procedures in place, Perot personnel say. They will use timed entry for guests to limit the number of visitors at any given time. Guests are strongly encouraged to purchase advance online tickets at at perotmuseum.org, which will guarantee their entry time and allow them easy access using the self-scanning, contactless entrance.

Guests must arrive within an hour of their designated times. Tickets will go on sale on Wednesday, July 1, and only groups of 10 or less will be allowed to purchase tickets. A limited number of tickets will be sold on site, based on availability, through self-service digital options. Tickets purchased on site may sell out or entry time might be delayed, and guests will be required to wait outdoors until their entry time.

Some areas of the museum will be temporarily closed, including the Moody Family Children’s Museum and a number of interactive activities. These closures may be lifted due to changing guidelines from local, state, and federal authorities, so visitors should check the Perot Museum's website for any changes.

A version of "Origins: Fossils from the Cradle of Humankind," the exhibit that was originally scheduled to end on March 22, will remain on display and be included with admission. "Origins" explores two extremely rare ancient human relatives — Australopithecus sediba and Homo naledi. The original fossils were removed during the museum’s closure for preservation and safekeeping, but identical, 3-D casts have been created in their place.

“We are excited to reopen the Perot Museum but want guests to understand their experience may be somewhat modified, due to the state guidelines,” said Dr. Linda Silver, Eugene McDermott Chief Executive Officer, in a statement. “While a few areas and exhibits aren’t currently available, rest assured there are five floors overflowing with a variety of opportunities for discovery, including the Origins exhibition at no additional cost.”

Other safety measures the museum will have will include a mask/face covering requirement for anyone age 3 or older; social distancing of at least six feet apart between groups; and a recommendation to wash/sanitize hands regularly. They have tripled the number of hand-sanitizing stations, which will be easily accessible at key points in the museum.

All employees, volunteers, and vendors will be required to wear face masks and have daily temperature checks upon entering the building. Prior to reopening, staff and volunteers will undergo extensive training regarding safety, public health, and operational measures.

Museum members will have special pre-opening access from July 6-8, along with member-only hours on Saturdays from 9-10 am and Sundays from 10-11 am. In addition, all currently active memberships have been extended for the four months that the museum was closed.

museums kids families

Movie Review

Resident Evil reboot is a blast for fans of horror movies

Photo by Dušan Martinček

undefined

In just two films (Barbarian and Weapons), writer/director Zach Cregger has established himself as one of the top horror filmmakers working today. His unique methodology involves taking audiences down familiar pathways before veering off into unexpected areas that feature copious amounts of gore and comically bizarre visuals.

His new film, Resident Evil, plays out in much the same way, resulting in something starkly different from the previous action-heavy films based on the video game series. Bryan (Austin Abrams) is a courier tasked with bringing special deliveries like organs to hospitals. After one delivery, he gets roped in to making another to the distant location of Raccoon City, a mission he accepts despite being ill-prepared for the journey.

Traveling down a snowy and icy road, Bryan gets waylaid after accidentally hitting a woman crossing the road. His attempt to save her jump starts a series of adventures in which he tries his best to survive in the face of an onslaught of numerous zombie-like people and creatures. All the while, Bryan is hellbent on completing his delivery at all costs.

Cregger, who co-wrote the film with Shay Hatten (John Wick: Chapter 4), is in complete command of the tone of the movie from minute one. Leaning into his comedy background, Cregger aims for humor first, with both horror and non-horror moments eliciting laughs. One of the biggest pleasures of the film is the way Bryan — who more often than not is by himself — mutters incredulously after experiencing yet another unbelievable incident. His reactions feel close to how a real person would be acting in such an extreme situation, giving the audience a dose of needed relief.

The episodic nature of the story also allows the film to play out like a video game without it ever feeling stilted. Every scene is like a new level of the game for Bryan as he faces increasingly difficult situations and monsters along the way. He gets some help from characters played by Kali Reis, Paul Walter Hauser, and Zach Cherry, but he’s mostly on his own, figuring out how to use guns and improvising ways to avoid or attack opponents.

What Cregger seems to understand better than most filmmakers who have adapted video games into films is how to pay tribute to the series without becoming too much about fan service. There are references aplenty to the different games, but the movie works just as well even if you’ve never played a single second. There is no shortage of tense situations, blood-soaked scenes, and outrageous imagery — and Cregger knows how to stage all of it to maximum effect.

Abrams is dynamite in the film, using understated line readings to make Bryan both funny and relatable. After being on the verge of breaking out for years, Abrams just might do so with this and the upcoming Whalefall. The appearances by Reis, Hauser, Cherry, Johnno Wilson, and others don’t last long, but each does a great job in helping the film keep the story going.

Cregger is now three-for-three in his young career, making films that both pay tribute to and subvert horror conventions at the same time. Resident Evil is a blast for fans of the genre, featuring a great lead character, a slew of memorable moments, and indelible visuals that might haunt your dreams.

---

Resident Evil opens in theaters on September 18.

film movies resident evil