Pandemic Living

Dallas' Perot Museum reopens with updated hours and safety guidelines

Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science finally will reopen to the public.

Photo by Mark Knight Photography

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science will reopen on Saturday, September 12, just over two months after they had initially planned to do so, and a month after other downtown Dallas museums started reopening.

To align with safety standards recently adopted by 60 other Dallas arts and culture organizations, the museum will have new public-health protocols, ticketing procedures, reduced hours, and limited occupancy, they announced September 9.

The museum will only be open on Fridays-Sundays for the foreseeable future, with general public hours of 10 am-5 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 am-5 pm on Sundays. There will be members-only hours of 9-10 am on Saturdays and 10-11 am on Sundays.

Capacity of the museum will be limited to no more than 25 percent, and timed-entry tickets will be utilized for every half hour until an hour before closing. Guests are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets in advance, and only groups of 10 or fewer will be allowed to purchase tickets.

Some areas of the museum will be temporarily closed, including the Moody Family Children’s Museum, The Hoglund Foundation Theater, and a number of interactive activities. The closures will be re-evaluated should safety guidelines change.

In addition, plans to display a version of "Origins: Fossils from the Cradle of Humankind" have been scuttled; that exhibition is now closed. It is not yet known whether "The Science Behind Pixar," which was scheduled to be on display April 25-September 7, will come to the museum.

Other safety measures in place will include the mandatory use of face coverings by all staff and guests ages 3 and older, social distancing, and contactless ticketing procedures. The museum will encourage regular hand washing, the use of hand sanitizer, and social distancing with increased signage and reminders by staff. All restrooms have been modified with hands-free door devices, and the number of hand-sanitizing stations have been tripled and will be accessible at key points in the museum.

“We have been working tirelessly to reopen, and our staff members are excited to get back to our educational mission of inspiring minds through nature and science,” said Dr. Linda Silver, Eugene McDermott Chief Executive Officer, in a statement. “And while some areas and activities are temporarily closed, rest assured our five-level, 180,000-square-foot museum offers plenty of discoveries around every corner.”

Tickets, which are free for members and $13-$20 for the general public, are now on sale at perotmuseum.org. A limited number of tickets will be sold on site, based on availability. However, 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.

The museum also offers the Community Partners program, which provides $1 general admission to families enrolled in state or federally funded supplemental programs. Eligible military, first responders, and educators also receive free admission. For discount details, learn more at perotmuseum.org/discounts.

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CREEPY CRAWLIES

Nightmarish stinging fireworms are washing up on Texas beaches

Harte Research Institute/ Facebook

Researcher Jace Tunnel holds a nightmarish fire worm.

Heads up, Gulf vacationers: Officials are sounding the alarm about a creepy critter that could ruin your next beach trip. The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies says that fireworms, a centipede-like sea creature with sharp bristles, are washing up on Texas shores.

Researcher Jace Tunnel posted the warning in a Facebook photo series detailing a recent beachcombing expedition. Along with benign finds like lost stuffed animals, seashells, and seeds, the explorer encountered a slithery pair of fireworms feeding on a pile of gooseneck barnacles.

Although voracious predators, fireworms are not usually a threat to humans. But their common name should give any beachgoer pause if they encounter them in the wild. The hollow bristles can inject a potent neurotoxin that can cause painful burning, nausea, and dizziness.

“[I]t literally feels like fire for about three hours,” explains the institute in a 2024 post. “Your skin can feel sensitive in the sting site for weeks, depending on where it stung you.”

The bristle worms are native to the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean and are most commonly found near coral reefs. Although not a new sight in the Gulf of Mexico, they are rare enough to cause a stir. When angler Alyssia Ramirez posted a 2020 video of catching a fireworm, it made international news, according to Corpus Christi NBC affiliate KRIS 6.

While the risk of getting stung by the washed-up amphinomids is relatively slim, WebMD says the treatment is relatively simple. Affected swimmers should apply vinegar or isopropyl alcohol to the affected area, then remove the bristles with tweezers or adhesive tape. Inflammation and burning can be treated with over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. Although painful, the neurotoxin is not potent enough to be deadly.

Fireworms are not the only nightmare creature causing a stir in Texas this year. In late June, the Texas Animal Health Commission and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department formed a task force to battle screwworms, a parasite that threatens the state's wildlife and cattle.

Fearless Texans can watch Tunnel's close encounter with fireworms — and other beachcombing expeditions — via the institute's YouTube channel.

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