MVHS Opens with Care

Mahoning Valley Historical Society’s facilities at Tyler History Center and Arms Family Museum were closed since March 14, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ohio Public Health Order for closure of museum sites was lifted, as of June 10, 2020. The following reopening plan uses a phased approach to safely reopen to the public. For information regarding our cleaning and sanitization procedures, click here.

Hours of Operation

Generally, MVHS will now allow public visitation with a three-days-a-week schedule only—Friday through Sunday—from noon to 4:00pm. Site details and opening dates include:

• Tyler History Center (self-guided first-floor galleries; lobby; handicap-accessible lobby restroom)—Friday, July 10, 2020 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Due to adjusted capacity limits within the building, MVHS also recommends that guests call 330-743-2589 the day of their visit to ensure available entry into the building.
• The Tyler Gift Shop will be off-limits to guests but admissions and merchandise will be sold through a special access window
• The Archives Resource Center on the lower level of Tyler History Center will reopen by appointment only— Friday, August 7, 2020
• Tyler History Center will also begin operating limited rental events on Saturday, August 1, 2020
• Arms Family Museum (guided tours on the first and second floors; gift shop; handicap-accessible restroom; full elevator and staircase access)—Friday, August 7, 2020 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Due to adjusted capacity limits within the building, MVHS also recommends that guests call 330-743-2589 the day of their visit to ensure available entry into the building .
• The Business & Media Archives, as well as the MVHS Administrative Offices, located behind Arms Family Museum, will reopen by appointment only— Friday, August 7, 2020

In the event that resurgence in the pandemic or any other causes to threaten public health and safety happen, MVHS may change these posted dates and times.

Tyler History Center: Admission Fees & Procedures

• Guests no longer need to pre-register their visit but are encouraged to call our main line at 330-743-2589, where they can speak to a staff member to confirm availability for tours on that day. MVHS is still required to limit occupancy throughout the museum so calling ahead is recommended. If walk-up guests cannot be accommodated when they arrive, they will be asked to delay the start of their tour or be invited to return at another time
• Guests are encouraged to ring the doorbell to let us know they have arrived. They will be received into the lobby area and welcomed by an MVHS staff member, who will review visitation guidelines:
  • Masks will be worn by all staff and guests while in the facility (unless prohibited by a medical condition), except while eating or drinking
  • Those exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 will be asked to leave and return when they have been symptom-free for three days
  • All guests and staff must remain 6’ apart from each other, unless they are part of a household or shared quarantine unit
  • Those visiting the museum exhibits will not be permitted beyond the first floor lobby/restroom, Drs. Thomas and Maria Fok Exhibit Gallery, and Youngstown Foundation Community History Gallery; access to the rest of the building will be restricted. (See below for access to the Archives Resource Center)
  • The passenger elevator will only be available to staff and visitors to the Archives Resource Center. The elevator will be limited to two occupants at a time (unless occupants are part of the same household or shared quarantine unit)
• A Visitor Service Representative will be positioned in the Gift Shop, using the pass-through window access to receive admission fees. The Gift Shop door will remain closed and guests may ask to be shown merchandise for purchase on an individual basis; sales transactions will take place through the pass-through window or through the shop door if merchandise is too large
• Admission fees will be set at half-price until August 2, 2020; full-price admissions begin August 7, 2020:

Adults – $3.50
Seniors (60+) and college students (with ID) – $3.00
Children (3-18) – $2.50
Children (under 3) – FREE
MVHS members, active military, and veterans (with ID) – FREE

• Once visitors begin their self-guided tour, a senior staff member will monitor the gallery to ensure that traffic patterns and social distancing are being followed
• Water fountains will be covered and closed to the public

Archives Resource Center: Admission Fees & Procedures

All admission fees & procedures for Tyler History Center apply to the Archives Resource Center, unless noted here.

• Archives guests must make an appointment in advance of their visit. Call the MVHS Archivist at 330-743-2589, ext. 127
• Click here for detailed fees and services
• Guests are encouraged to ring the doorbell to let us know they have arrived. They will be received into the lobby area and welcomed by an Archives staff member, who will review visitation guidelines:
  • Masks will be worn by all staff and guests while in the facility (unless prohibited by a medical condition), except while eating or drinking
  • Those exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 will be asked to leave and return when they have been symptom-free for three days
  • All guests and staff must remain six feet apart from each other, unless they are part of a household or shared quarantine unit
  • The passenger elevator will only be available to staff and visitors to the Archives Resource Center. The elevator will be limited to two occupants at a time (unless occupants are part of the same household or shared quarantine unit)
• There will be a limit of three patrons in the Archives at a time, spaced six feet apart at reading room tables
• Archives staff will retrieve all materials for patrons
• Materials retrieved for patrons will be isolated on a designated shelving unit for three days before being returned to storage or retrieved for other patrons
• Patrons will be asked to wash hands before touching any artifacts
• Patrons will use disposable gloves when handling photographic media or other items that normally require glove use
• Gloves will be disposed of in a designated receptacle
• Volunteers will be scheduled by appointment only, working individually in the Volunteer Office
• Donations will be accepted by appointment only. Incoming collections should be isolated on designated shelves for at least five days (based on the average viral death rate on different materials) before processing

Tyler History Center: Event Rental Procedures

Click here for specific details regarding limits and guidelines for rental agreements

• Rental inquiries and event planning may be made by calling the Tyler Events Coordinator at 330-743-2589, ext. 120.
• Guests will be received into the lobby area and welcomed by an MVHS staff member, who will reiterate visitation guidelines:
  • Masks will be worn by all staff and guests while in the facility (unless prohibited by a medical condition), except while eating or drinking
  • Those exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 will be asked to leave and return when they have been symptom-free for three days
  • All guests and staff must remain six feet apart from each other, unless they are part of a household or shared quarantine unit, or seated at the same table
  • The passenger elevator will be limited to two occupants at a time (unless occupants are part of the same household or shared quarantine unit)
• Any guests, staff, or vendors exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms will be asked to leave
• All MVHS staff, vendors, and catering staff must regularly wash their hands
• Catering staff must comply with ODH sanitization and food safety regulations
• The freight elevator will be limited to two occupants at a time (unless occupants are part of the same household or shared quarantine unit)
• Event tables will be spaced six feet apart
• Buffet service is permitted, but only when served by catering staff, while guests in line remain six feet apart
• Fok Gallery add-ons to event rentals will be temporarily suspended
• Dance floors will be temporarily suspended
• At least two MVHS staff members will be required to perform event sanitization procedures and monitor for safety and social distancing protocol compliance among guests during the event
• Every two hours during an event, MVHS staff members will sanitize high-touch fixtures and surfaces

Arms Family Museum: Admission Fees & Procedures

Guests no longer need to pre-register their visit but are encouraged to call our main line at 330-743-2589, where they can speak to a staff member to confirm availability for tours on that day. MVHS is still required to limit occupancy throughout the museum so calling ahead is recommended. If walk-up guests cannot be accommodated when they arrive, they will be asked to delay the start of their tour or be invited to return at another time.

• Masks will be worn by all staff and guests while in the facility (unless prohibited by a medical condition), except while eating or drinking
• Those exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 will be asked to leave and return when they have been symptom-free for three days
• All guests and staff must remain six feet apart from each other, unless they are part of a household or shared quarantine unit
• Touching is not permitted in the historic house and museum exhibits
• The main men’s and women’s restrooms on the lower level will be closed. The single-occupancy, handicap-accessible restroom on the lower level is available for public use.
• The passenger lift is limited to two occupants at a time (unless occupants are part of the same household or shared quarantine unit)

Guests are encouraged to ring the doorbell to let us know they have arrived. They will be received into the lobby area outside of the Gift Shop and welcomed by an MVHS staff member, who will review visitation guidelines:

• Half-price admission fees now apply to both Arms Family Museum and Tyler History Center. MVHS is not accepting admissions to cover both facilities, allowing guests to choose which MVHS site they would like to visit and not have to plan a longer period of time during one day to see both. Admission prices are:

Adults – $3.50
Seniors (60+) and college students (with ID) – $3.00
Children (3-18) – $2.50
Children (under 3) – FREE
MVHS members, active military, and veterans (with ID) – FREE

• Museum guides will take guest admission fees and process any gift shop sales
• Museum guides will accompany guests throughout their guided tours, will ensure that guests do not touch museum exhibits and that social distancing is being followed

Business & Media Archives: Admission Fees & Procedures

All admission fees & procedures for Arms Family Museum apply to the Business & Media Archives, unless noted here.

• BMA guests must make an appointment in advance of their visit. Call the BMA Project Manager at 330-743-2589, ext. 105.
• Fees and services are detailed here
• Guests are encouraged to ring the doorbell to let us know they have arrived. They will be received into the lobby area and welcomed by a Media Archives staff member, who will review visitation guidelines:
  • Masks will be worn by all staff and guests while in the facility (unless prohibited by a medical condition), except while eating or drinking
  • Those exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 will be asked to leave and return when they have been symptom-free for three days
  • All guests and staff must remain six feet apart from each other, unless they are part of a household or shared quarantine unit
  • The passenger elevator will only be available to staff and visitors to the Archives Resource Center. The elevator will be limited to two occupants at a time (unless occupants are part of the same household or shared quarantine unit)
• There will be a limit of two patrons in the Reading Room at a time
• Media Archives staff will retrieve all materials for patrons
• Materials retrieved for patrons will be isolated on a designated shelving unit for five days before being returned to storage or retrieved for other patrons
• Patrons will be asked to wash hands before touching any artifacts, computers, or viewing equipment
• Patrons will use disposable gloves when handling photographic media or other items that normally require glove use
• Gloves will be disposed of in a designated receptacle
• Volunteers will be scheduled by appointment only and working individually
• Collections donations will be accepted by appointment only. Incoming collections should be isolated on designated shelves for at least five days (based on the average viral death rate on different materials) before processing

General Health and Safety Protocols

MVHS staff has continued to maintain cleaning and sanitization procedures throughout the pandemic the closure order. These procedures will be maintained and expanded upon reopening to the public. Tyler History Center and Arms Family Museum will have their monthly deep cleaning, with special focus on sanitizing the following with household disinfectants:

• All bathrooms and fixtures, kitchen, bar, and classroom sink fixtures and surfaces, kitchen equipment, door handles, light switches, hand rails, equipment operation panels (elevators, copiers, HVAC controls), floors, flat surfaces throughout.
• Cleaning of exhibit areas will be led by the MVHS Collections Manager and, depending on the surfaces, will use a combination of isopropyl alcohol solution (70/30) for glass, Plexiglas cleaner for vitrines, microfiber cloths/vacuuming for history surfaces, and a sodium laurel sulfate solution for other gallery surfaces. Historic floors will be vacuumed and/or mopped with a Murphy’s Oil Soap solution.

Additional safety supplies to be installed at MVHS facilities:

• Freestanding sanitizing stations for staff and visitor use at Tyler History Center lobby, kitchens, and third floor; Archives Resource Center hallway; at Arms entrance and lower level; at Business & Media Archives entrance
• Surgical masks at entry points for staff and visitor use at each site
• Disposable, powder free, nitrile gloves for staff and Archives patron use
• Alcohol wipes for staff use in wiping of high-touch surfaces and interactive devices
• Disinfectant spray and paper towels for staff use
• Small table in passenger elevators with bottled hand sanitizer, Kleenex, waste basket

Ohio Guidelines

MVHS will continue to monitor Ohio health and safety guidelines and adjust protocols accordingly.