Midway Village Museum Plans To Re-Open Main Museum Center and Gallery Tours Wednesday, January 20
Midway Village Museum is welcoming back visitors beginning Wednesday, January 20, following the second COVID-19 closure in November. The museum is opening its Main Museum Center and gallery exhibits with self-guided tours at 10 am, 11 am, Noon, 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm. Regular hours of operations are 10 am though 4 pm for visitors to the museum Wednesdays through Sundays.
“As part of the museum’s re-opening, a special weekend is set to offer guided gallery tours,” said Executive Director Patrick O’Keefe. “We are excited to open the museum to the public and have decided to move the opening date of the Victorian Village to April 15.”
A Grand Re-opening Guided Exhibit Tours Weekend is set to welcome museum members and visitors back with one-hour guided interpretive tours beginning with a Members Guided Tour Day on Friday, January 29. The tours are free for Midway Village Museum Members and any member interesting in the tours should call the museum’s Front Desk to make a reservation at 815-397-9112.
Following the Members Guided Tour Day on Friday, Visitors Guided Tour Days are set for Saturday, January 30 and Sunday, January 31. Visitors are invited to discover and explore the museum galleries with no extra admission charges to the regular self-guided tour admission price. Admission is $7 adults; $5 children (ages 3-17). Reservations for the guided tours will be available beginning on Friday, January 22 by phone at 815-397-9112 or on our website.
These guided tours are led by a history interpreter in period clothing and focus on Rockford history including stories about the Rockford Peaches, the iconic Sock Monkey and its relevance to the community and manufacturing, early immigration, and the impact of aviation in the city’s economy. Visitors also will learn additional stories of the past as they walk through the Many Faces, One Community gallery. This exhibit features stories of Rockford’s immigrants from 1834 to the present. Three new temporary exhibits are part of the tour highlighting early office technology, the Rockford IceHogs and the Korean War.
Looking ahead in 2021, an earlier opening date to the Victorian Village seasonal tour schedule is set. This year’s Victorian Village will open on Thursday, April 15 with guided tours on the weekends. Watch for more details about times and reservations on Friday, February 5 on our website.
Midway Village Museum is conveniently located right off of I-90 on Rockford's east side at 6799 Guilford Road. Parking is free.
Midway Village Museum outdoor special events are rain or shine with no refunds on admissions. No pets are allowed on the grounds. Midway Village Museum is a smoke free campus.
There is also no drone photography allowed.
If you are interested in photography sessions on the grounds, please call 815-397-9112 to inquire.
What To Expect When Visiting
- Gallery capacity is currently limited to 150.
- Large group gatherings are not permitted and the ability to conduct guided tours is impacted as well. Group guided tour sizes are limited to 10 visitors.
- Timed entry can be schedule online for your convenience and safety at fareharbor link.
- Touchless thermometers in the Main Museum Center lobby for visitors' temperature checks.
- Social distancing practices are required of 6-feet from others and avoidance of gathering groups.
- Face masks are required over your nose and mouth and secured under chin whenever inside museum buildings.
- Midway Village Museum staff and all visitors to the museum campus are required at this time to follow all State of Illinois mandates for social distancing.
Ticket(s) will be available for online purchase soon or call to speak to a Front Desk representative during regular business hours.
If you are a Midway Village Museum Member the tours are free as part of your membership. Please, call ahead to make a reservation so we can accommodate you and your guest(s) by speaking with a Front Desk representative at 815-397-9112.
Any visitor without reservations including public guests and museum members should register at the Front Desk with a cashless point of sale system, on a first come, first served basis, with a possibility of a wait until the next hourly tour is available.
Demonstrate Patience, Grace and Respect
At this time, we all benefit from acknowledging this is a stressful time period and the impacts of COVID-19 on each members, visitor, volunteer and staff are unique and could be significant. The museum staff asks you be flexible, patient and respectful of others on the museum campus. Thank you for taking an interest in visiting the museum at this time.
Feeling sick or not well?
Anyone feeling sick or showing COVID-19 symptoms should postpone their visit for another time.
Self Monitoring
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you may have COVID-19. Please consult your health care provider and plan to visit Midway Village Museum in the future. You can visit our website for regular updates.
Our Clean Hands Pledge & Social Distancing Continues
The museum is continuing it involvement in a community-wide initiative entitled, "Clean Hands, Open Doors," and pledges to open safely and responsibly by following seven standards intended to reduce disease transmission and help build consumer confidence as the economy reopens.
Visitors must wear masks and practice social distancing while on the museum grounds. Hand sanitizer will be available for visitors to use. Also, for the safety of everyone, the staff is involved in daily temperature and wellness checks. History interpreter guides are also wearing masks and gloves at this time.
The safety of our community, and all those who visit and are part of the museum team, remains our highest priority. The museum will provide updates on its operations to staff, visitors, re-enactors, educators, members, volunteers and others affiliated with museum operations.
Should you have further questions, please call 815-397-9112.