Alf Museum to Reopen on June 16

The Webb Schools’ Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology, closed to in-person visits since March 2020, will reopen to the public with new safety precautions starting Wednesday, June 16.

“We can’t wait to throw open the doors and welcome visitors once again,” said Dr. Don Lofgren, the Alf’s director. “Our public programs are an incredibly significant part of our mission.”

Since the pandemic-required shutdown, the Alf has served community members with a program of virtual tours. Museum outreach teams have hosted close to 10,000 students at schools from the surrounding neighborhoods and across the globe. The Alf also partnered with other science organizations to create online educational programs.

The museum will continue to provide virtual programs while opening doors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Visitors will be required to make reservations in two-hour blocks, with the museum accommodating up to 25 guests per block.

In the first phase of reopening, interactive exhibits will remain closed, and the museum will hold no special events. Researchers will be allowed to use collections if space allows for social distancing.

As conditions improve, the museum will phase in greater capacity and interactive exhibits, expand days and hours and eliminate reservations.

“Our outreach teams have worked tremendously hard to continue connecting to the community during the pandemic shutdown,” said Dr. Andrew Farke, Augustyn Family Curator and director of research and collections. “We are excited to continue the innovative programs that have brought the Alf experience to students no matter where they are located while adding in the rich, in-person experience that is a hallmark of our museum.”