SALEM, Mass. — "What's really funny, in October, we always ask people to remove their masks, now we're insisting that they wear them," explained Tina Jordan, the Executive Director of the Salem Witch Museum
The Salem Witch Museum reopened its doors Monday under Phase 3.
"There's an excitement and a tingling. Everyone is just really thrilled to be together again," Jordan said.
After being closed for more than three-and-a-half months, the museum welcomed guests back but with safety at the forefront.
"The sneeze guards. We're a very, very social group here at the Salem Witch Museum and we really love to answer questions, and it's a little strange when we're in a bubble. We can't be directly interacting [with] them unless they line up and ask questions," Jordan said.
Related: What to know about Monday’s Phase 3 reopening
Visitor capacity is reduced to 40%, social distancing is a must and facial coverings are required. Guided tours are limited and restaurants and gift shops, if they're open, need to follow the respective reopening guidelines for their industries. Presentations will be done differently too.
"With our main presentation, we have assigned seating. So when visitors come in, a staff member is directing them, depending on the size of their party, to the location in the room," Jordan said.
At the House of Seven Gables, visitors are able to enjoy the gardens now and the museum store, which will reopen later this week.
"Once you get out into the gardens, if you follow the audio tour, you get to a really, nice, one-way, safe direction around the site. There are benches where you can just sit down and relax, you can bring an iced tea or a coffee," said Julie Arrison-Bishop, the Community Engagement Director at the House of the Seven Gables.
The historic home is off-limits.
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"The square footage of the guided tour doesn't make for the most comfortable experience in the public health situation that we're in," Arrison-Bishop said.
The museums are able to offer online video tours to places where the public cannot access.
At Seven Gables, admission prices are reduced to reflect the change.
“Nothing is ever as good as being inside the House of the Seven Gables and climbing the secret staircase, but for where we are in 2020, we’re really happy to offer this to our visitors,” Arrison-Bishop said.
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