Here’s why York County museums are still closed amid COVID. But programs continue
York County’s museums remain temporarily closed despite being able to re-open more than two months ago amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“The museum staff and board are monitoring coronavirus cases and will re-open when there is a downward trajectory of cases and visitors can be safe at the sites,” said Marie Cheek, communications director the museums. “We want to keep people safe.”
Museums were allowed to re-open May 22 in South Carolina. Gov. Henry McMaster ordered all nonessential businesses in the state to close, including museums, on April 1 because of the COVID-19 crisis.
York County’s museums closed ahead of the state order on March 16 but has continued to offer programs online.
The county’s Culture & Heritage Museums include the Museum of York County in Rock Hill, Historic Brattonsville in McConnells, McCelvey Center in York and the Main Street Children’s Museum in Rock Hill. The museums are funded by York County, with additional money from admissions, grants and memberships, Cheek said.
For now, the museums have not set opening dates but will reopen in phases, said Richard Campbell, executive director of the museums. He did not provide specifics on what those phases look like.
“We have been diligently planning for a phased reopening, and are following guidelines developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to guide the museum’s planning and reopening schedule,” Campbell said in a statement to The Herald. “The date for reopening will depend on York County meeting criteria as developed by the CDC.”
Thousands of visitors
The museum sites had about 98,000 visitors from July 2018 to June 2019, Cheek said. Visitors from July 2019 through June 2020 dropped to around 48,000 with the coronavirus shutdown, she said.
Planned March and April concerts at the McCelvey Center were postponed, as were spring and summer events at the Brattonsville site, a 775-acre Revolutionary War site that includes living history interpreters.
Penny Sheppard, chairwoman of the museum board of directors, said safety is important because many of the activities are hands-on and include tours.
And, the museums bring in groups, including school children, Cheek said.
Programs online
The museum’s 60 employees remain working, Cheek said, as the staff continues to hold free programs online.
The Museum of York County and Historic Brattonsville hold live programs on Zoom, according to the museum’s website. And, the children’s museum offers Facebook live events, like an art class with pre-purchased kits available.
Sheppard said the virtual programming has attracted large audiences, especially children and parents. One event had more than 2,000 views, he said.
A full list of virtual programs can be found at chmuseums.org.
