The Bess Bower Dunn Museum in Libertyville reopens to the public on Saturday, February 13 with limited hours, online timed ticketing to maintain visitation at a reduced capacity, and other safety protocols in place to comply with COVID-19 concerns. 

"We are following CDC guidelines and those outlined in Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan to ensure the safety and health of our visitors and employees, and the entire community. Modifications have been made throughout the galleries and gift shop to minimize touch points and support social distancing,” said Director of Education Nan Buckardt. 

“We look forward to welcoming visitors back again to the Dunn Museum,” said Angelo Kyle, president of the Lake County Forest Preserves. “Our priority remains to create a safe environment and provide peace of mind for all our visitors and staff while connecting them with Lake County history and culture."

Modified hours are 10 am to 3:30 pm, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with visitation time slots available from 10–11:30 am, 12–1:30 pm, and 2–3:30 pm. The galleries and gift shop will be closed between these time slots for cleaning and disinfecting. The Dunn Museum will be open on Presidents Day, Monday, February 15 and will resume its regular schedule thereafter.

To assure safety for visitors and employees, and to maintain the 25% maximum capacity set by the state, timed entry tickets will be sold in advance online. Buckardt said 35 people will be allowed to visit per time slot through a combination of 25 timed entry tickets available for purchase online and 10 tickets available for purchase at the door. Only credit card payments accepted. Each gallery has signs posted and cameras in place so employees can monitor and enforce capacity limits as necessary.  

Know Before You Go: Guidelines for Visiting

• If you are sick or feel unwell, please stay home.
• All visitors (except children under 2) are required to wear face masks in accordance with Illinois Public Health Department guidelines.
• All visitors must follow social distancing rules by maintaining six feet or more between non-household individuals or other visitor groups at all times.
• A new one-way path through the gift shop and galleries is marked, and all seating areas have been modified to accommodate social distancing. 
• Please wash and sanitize hands frequently during your visit and practice good hygiene. Hand-sanitizing stations are available throughout the facility.
• There are COVID-19 signs and directions throughout the facility reinforcing social distancing rules, masks, and hand-washing and hygiene procedures. 
• Operating procedures have been enhanced to incorporate both CDC and OSHA guidelines for frequent and thorough cleaning and sanitation of public spaces. 
• Deep cleaning of all surfaces will occur on days when the Dunn Museum is closed.
• Browse the gift shop with your eyes. If you are interested in purchasing a product, gloves are available to use at the front desk. Only credit card payments accepted.
• Protective safety shields are installed at the registers.
• Dunn Museum employees will stay home when sick, wear masks, maintain social distancing, and wash hands and practice good hygiene.

• All public educational programs, including the USG Free Thursday Night programs, will continue to be held virtually until further notice. Visit LCFPD.org/calendar for dates and details, or follow @LCFPD on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. 
• Virtual field trips, school programs and group guided programs or lectures are available for booking. Visit LCFPD.org/schools for details, or email AskAnEducator@LCFPD.org.
• Research requests from the Lake County History Archives and Collections will continue to be fulfilled remotely. Visit LCFPD.org/collections for details.

• “Our Voice is Black History: Past, Present, Future" opened virtually February 6 and runs through October 31.
  • A collaboration between the Dunn Museum and the College of Lake County’s Black Student Union, this exhibit offers a look at a representation of the African American voice of Lake County. Presented virtually, the exhibition examines and explores multigenerational stories and experiences through graphic design, poetry, writing, art, and video interviews that portray the voice of the African Americans’ past and reality, which becomes Our Voice. 
• “Breaking Barriers: Women in the Military” runs through June 13. 
  • For centuries women have helped defend the nation in times of war and conflict. In this tribute to those who served, the Dunn Museum shares Lake County stories while exploring women’s roles as nurses, auxiliary personnel, enlistees, and officers in the U.S. military. The nation’s struggle was their struggle, and women wanted to have a larger role, equal to men in responsibility and risk.

Admission Information

Go online to LCFPD.org/MuseumTickets to purchase timed entry tickets in advance. Only a limited number of tickets will be available for purchase in person. Only credit card payments accepted.

If you become sick or feel unwell after making your reservation and prior to your visit, please contact the Dunn Museum at 847-367-6640 or FrontDeskStaff@LCFPD.org so that your reserved time can be made available for another visitor. 

Prices
$6 adults; $10 nonresidents 
$3 seniors, youth; $6 nonresidents 
Free, children ages 3 and under
Discount Tuesdays 
$3 adults; $5 nonresidents 
$1.50 seniors, youth; $3 nonresidents 
Free, children ages 3 and under
The Dunn Museum is located in the General Offices of the Lake County Forest Preserves at 1899 W. Winchester Road between Rte 45 and Butterfield Road in Libertyville. Entrance is on the south side of building. Turn south onto Technology Way and follow signs to the Dunn Museum.

The Dunn Museum is selling its popular Dryptosaurus T-shirts online and at the gift shop. Dunn Museum gift cards that never expire are also available.
Operated by the Lake County Forest Preserves, the Dunn Museum is among only 3% of museums nationally to have earned accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, an industry mark of distinction. 
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Courtesy of Lake County Forest Preserves 
The Bess Bower Dunn Museum in Libertyville will reopen to the public on February 13 with limited hours and visitor capacity, prepaid timed entry tickets, and other safety measures in place.