Over a month after its usual opening date for the 2020 season the Guthrie County Historical Village and Museum in Panora is now open to the public, with some modifications.

Guthrie County Conservation Director Brad Halterman says the main museum building and offices at the southwest corner of the complex will remain closed at this time as well as the restrooms in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Halterman says nine buildings will be open for viewing – the cabin, newspaper office, depot, church, schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, general store, law office, and outhouse – but there is a catch, “We’re opening them up to viewing from the entryway until we can figure out a way to have people go into these buildings and either one of two things: either keep hands off or figure out a way to sanitize and clean, that’s the way we’re going to have to proceed for right now.”

Halterman asks that only one visitor group be at a building at one time, and he encourages the public to wear face masks in effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. As he considers this a partial reopening, a freewill donation will be accepted instead of an admission fee. Donation tubes have been placed by the sidewalk entrances to the village, and those dollars are always appreciated to help the village and Conservation staff continue their work. The village is open from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and Saturday from 1-4 p.m.