The COVID-19 Report

This isn't something I would normally do, but let's face it: right now we are living in some interesting times. Like the rest of the United States (and indeed, the world), Pennsylvania is experiencing difficulties related to COVID-19, or the Coronavirus, and a lot of places are closing or changing plans.

I can't really do much to help with the situation at all, obviously, although doing so is my natural inclination. What I can do, at least, is compile what I know about programming changes in order to keep you, my readers, updated on the situation at any places you intended to visit. I mostly track such stuff in my own native eastern Pennsylvania, so I don't have much information about anything very far to the west - if you know of something which should be on this list, by all means leave a comment here or on the blog's Facebook page. I'll update this post periodically with new information as I receive it; if a particular historic site interests you, I encourage you to keep an eye on its website and/or social media so you have the latest details. And you can always visit some of them by rereading posts here on MarkerQuest!

It's worth mentioning that many of these organizations are non-profits which rely on public contributions (like entrance fees) in order to keep their programs operational. If you're in a position to donate to any of them which are especially dear to you, please consider doing so. Many donations are tax-deductible, and you'll make it possible for them to continue to do what they do once the pandemic is no longer a threat. Some of these organizations also have virtual gift shops, which is another way in which you can support them during this difficult time.

Please remember to wash your hands often, don't hoard the toilet paper, and look out for your neighbors - especially if they're elderly or immunocompromised. (And believe me, you know more immunocompromised people than you think.) Thank you to the social media team at Discover Lehigh Valley for some of this information!

Last update: March 16, 2020, at 3:00 p.m.: All nonessential businesses across Pennsylvania have been ordered to close by the Office of the Governor. Trash collection will continue; essential businesses such as medical services, grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations will remain open. Restaurants may offer takeout or drive-thru service only. Basically, this list is now somewhat obsolete, because pretty much everything is closed. But I'll keep it up because the links may be of use to people.

Statewide

• The PHMC has made announcements about this situation. Except in Montgomery County and the Capitol Complex in Dauphin County (see below), individual visitation at all PHMC facilities is still being permitted, subject to change. However, all group events, tours, and facility rentals are canceled through the end of April. Update 3/13 11:00 p.m.: All PHMC historic sites and museums throughout the entire commonwealth are closed effective Sunday, March 15th, through at least March 31st. Staff will continue to report to work, but visitors are not permitted. They will re-evaluate the situation near the end of the month and update accordingly.
• Per the orders of Governor Wolf, all schools across the commonwealth will close effective Monday, March 16th, through the end of the month.
• Per the directives of the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, all public libraries across Pennsylvania will be closed through the end of the month, concurrent with the school closure. No late fees will be imposed for borrowed materials.

Berks County

• The Berks History Center has decided to cancel or postpone all large public events through the end of April. This includes the Justice Bell program on March 28th, the annual conference on April 4th, and the volunteer luncheon on April 7th. Other small events will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Update 3/14 12:30 p.m.: The center's museum and research library are also closed effective immediately. They plan to resume normal business hours the week of March 30th, and will announce additional changes on their website and social media as needed.
• Hawk Mountain Sanctuary has rescheduled their April 3rd showing of the film Birds of Prey. At this time, they are not changing or canceling any other programming, but they are increasing the frequency and rigor of all cleaning and sanitation practices at all facilities. Any changes to the situation will be announced as soon as possible. Update: The Sanctuary has now decided to close all facilities, including all buildings and trails. Hawk Mountain is closed to the public for the remainder of March. (For those wondering why: it's because HM provides public toilets on their trails, and no staff will be on site to maintain them.)

Bucks County

• The African-American Museum of Bucks County has canceled their scheduled speaker event for Sunday, March 15th at the Bucks County Visitor Center. Any other changes or cancellations will be announced as soon as possible.
• The Bucks County Visitor Center, which is home to many historical exhibits, is closed effective immediately and will remain closed through Sunday, March 22nd. Any further closures will be announced on their website.
• The Heritage Conservancy is suspending all planned programming effective immediately through Wednesday, April 1st. This includes outreach and volunteer programs. Those signed up to participate will be contacted by staff, who will be working remotely during this period.
• Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 13th, and will remain closed to the public until Sunday, April 5th. This includes the museum library. All public programming scheduled during that time has been canceled; anyone who has purchased a ticket for any of the programs will be contacted by staff for a refund. 

Carbon County

• The Asa Packer Mansion, which would normally resume its seasonal tours in April, will remain closed until further notice for the well-being of visitors and staff.
• The Old Jail Museum is currently closed for the off-season and is expected to resume its usual tour schedule on Memorial Day weekend. At this time, no changes to this plan are anticipated; please check the website for updates.

Chester County

• As of right now, the dedication ceremony for the Jim Croce marker in Lyndell is still scheduled for April 25th. Karen Galle of the PHMC sent an email to advise me that this may be rescheduled, depending on the events of the next several weeks. Please keep an eye on the PHMC's marker dedication calendar for updates to this plan.

Dauphin County

• The State Museum of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania State Archives are closed to individual researchers and visitors until further notice. All group events, tours, and rentals at PHMC facilities in the Capitol Complex and at all of their historic sites and museums are canceled through the end of April. In-person meetings at PHMC facilities are being limited to 10 people or fewer through the end of April, with staff members being encouraged to communicate with outside colleagues via virtual means whenever possible.
• ZooAmerica at Hersheypark is closed to the public effective Saturday, March 14th, through the end of the month. Essential staff will be on hand to care for the animals, but no admissions will be allowed.

Lancaster County

• LancasterHistory has canceled or postponed all large public events until April 12th. Ticketholders will be notified when new dates have been selected. All other operations of LancasterHistory, including the museum and gift shop, are currently operating on a normal schedule, with increased frequency and intensity of cleaning at all facilities. Update 3/13 2:10 p.m.: LancasterHistory is suspending all activities and closing all facilities effective Saturday, March 14th. All public events, tours, programs, and facilities, including the research center and museum, will be closed until Monday, April 13th. However, the Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum remains open to the public daily from dawn to dusk.
• Rock Ford Plantation does not begin its regular tour season until April 1st, and as of this writing this is expected to go forward as planned. The volunteer recruitment event scheduled for March 22nd is not being canceled at this time. Bathroom and hand washing facilities will be made available to all event attendees, though individuals who feel unwell are encouraged not to attend.

Lehigh County

• Coplay Borough announces that effective immediately, all parks in the borough are closed to the public; this includes Saylor Park, which is home to the Saylor Cement Kilns.
• The Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum has canceled all public programs effective immediately until further notice. The museum gallery and library remain available to visitors at this time, unless the situation takes a turn for the worse. Update 3/13 11:15 p.m.: The entire facility is now closed to the public at least until Tuesday, March 31st.
• The Lehigh Valley Zoo remains open to the public, but all close-quarters attractions (such as the lizard house) are closed. All educational programming, both on-site and off-site, will be postponed through Friday, March 27th, and all public animal feeding and crafting events are canceled for the same period. Guests who have reservations for special events will be contacted by staff. Update 3/16 3:00 p.m.: In accordance with the mandate of the Governor, the zoo will be closed effective Tuesday, March 17th, until at least Friday, March 27th.
• The Liberty Bell Museum has a policy of closing whenever the Allentown School District closes. As of right now, this remains the case; please monitor their website and Facebook page for possible changes to the policy. Update 3/16 11:30 a.m.: The museum will remain closed to the public until further notice.
• The Mack Trucks Historical Museum is closed to the public until further notice.

Montgomery County

• As of this writing, Montgomery County has been hit the hardest by COVID-19, and pretty much the whole county has shut down. All schools and community centers in the county remain closed. The PHMC has accordingly closed Graeme Park, the Highlands Mansion, and Hope Lodge until further notice.

Northampton County

• C. F. Martin Guitar & Co. has suspended all tours of the factory, effective Monday, March 16th, until further notice.
• The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor is canceling or postponing all programs, volunteer events, and meetings effective immediately through March 27th. The administrative offices and the Emrick Center will also be closed; further details will be sent to staff and volunteers by the executive director. Trails remain open for public use at this time.
• Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites will close all facilities and programs as of Friday, March 13th. This includes the Moravian Museum, the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, the Visitor Center, and all related gift shops. All visits, walking tours, and programs will be suspended through March 31st. Tickets will be honored when facilities reopen.
• The Lehigh Township Historical Society has decided to postpone their spring basket social, originally scheduled for Sunday, March 29th. They will announce on social media when the event has a new date.
• The Moravian Archives will be open on Saturday, March 14th, from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Visitors may conduct research and visit the gift shop (they will have many used books for sale). At noon the Archives will close and they will remain closed until Wednesday, April 1st. All visitors, volunteers, and interns are asked to remain at home; regular hours will resume in April unless announced otherwise.
• The Moravian Historical Society has canceled all public programs and events effective immediately through March 31st. The Historic Nazareth Walking Tour will resume on April 11th. The Share the Heritage Gala has been rescheduled for Friday, September 18th. Administrative offices will remain open on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. The museum will be open during the month of March on weekdays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; it will be closed on weekends.
• The National Museum of Industrial History and its administrative offices are closed effective immediately and will remain closed until Wednesday, April 1st.
• The Sigal Museum, including the Jane S. Moyer Library and related historic houses, is closed to the public. All public programming has been canceled until further notice.

Philadelphia County

• The Franklin Institute is closed to the public effective Saturday, March 14th. At this time they expect to reopen in two weeks; updates will be announced if this plan changes.
• The Philadelphia Zoo is continuing to operate all outdoor attractions and gardens as normal; however, all indoor exhibits are closed to guests and non-essential personnel as of close of business on Friday, March 13th. All zoo-related travel, both domestic and international, has been suspended. Update 3/16 12:45 p.m.: The zoo is closed to the public effective Tuesday, March 17th, through Tuesday, March 31st. Essential staff will be on hand to care for the animals, but no admissions will be allowed.

Schuylkill County

• The Schuylkill County Historical Society, Museum, and Gift Shop is closed to the public effective immediately and will remain closed until further notice.

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Except where indicated, all writing and photography on this blog is the intellectual property of Laura Klotz. This blog is written with permission of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. I am not employed by the PHMC. All rights reserved.