Pandemic Living
Dallas' Perot Museum reopens with updated hours and safety guidelines
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.
