Safety & Cleaning
Will everyone including children have to wear masks?CMEE recommends that all visitors over the age of 2 wear a mask during their visit. Since children under the age of 5 are ineligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, we make this recommendation to protect them. We appreciate your commitment to the health and safety of our littlest visitors!
If If you forget to bring a mask and would like to wear one, free masks are available. Just ask at the front desk!
To add as much fresh air as possible, the Museum is keeping exterior doors open. Please monitor your children in the Museum to ensure they do not leave the building on their own.
The Museum’s cleaning procedures go above and beyond what is mandated by the CDC and New York State Department of Health. We have dramatically increased cleaning frequencies throughout the Museum and we added sanitation wipes and hand sanitizer stations throughout the Museum and exhibits. Museum staff are cleaning before, during and after visitors enjoy the exhibits. High traffic areas are wiped down almost immediately after visitors touch them.
After visitors are finished with any props or exhibit items, Museum staff will collect them in bins prior to disinfecting them for the next session. With their primary directive being the cleanliness of the Museum, staff will circulate throughout the Museum, continuously monitoring and disinfecting high touch areas and encouraging visitors to place used exhibit parts into the bins. Finally, the Museum will conduct a deep cleaning before and after each afternoon session.
To clean the Museum, staff will continue to sourcing and using cleaning and disinfecting products that are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and are EPA-approved.
Bathrooms are open but limited to two individuals or one visitor group (no more than four people in a group) at once to respect social distancing requirements. Bathrooms are cleaned multiple times throughout the day.
Ticketing & Admissions
What days and times will the Museum be open?The Museum is open Monday – Wednesday and Friday – Sunday for three sessions (9:30am – 11:30am, 12pm – 2pm, and 2:30pm – 4:30pm). We will remain closed on Thursdays during our Weekly Food Pantry.
Yes. In order to ensure that we are able to accurately limit the number of guests visiting the Museum, all members of your party must be registered in advance. This includes any children under 12 months, caregivers, other family members, and friends. In the event that the Museum is at capacity, additional, unregistered guests will not be permitted per NY State guidelines.
No. Advance online tickets or phone reservations are required.
For the time being, the Museum will not accept cash.
In order to limit capacity and ensure proper social distancing, we now require visitors to register in advance. Tickets are valid for the duration of the session—9:30am – 11:30am, 12pm – 2pm, or 2:30pm – 4pm—for which you register.
Yes. If you registered for tickets online, please bring your ticket PDFs. The PDF does not need to be printed, showing it on your smartphone or tablet is sufficient.
Your ticket is valid for the entire slot. You may arrive at any point during it, but your entire visit must take place during the scheduled time slot. Tickets are only valid for the date and time selected at time of purchase.
If you are unable to make your visit, please contact the Museum before your scheduled time that so we may make those tickets available to other guests. You must speak to a Visitor Services staff member to cancel prior to 24 hours to receive a refund.
If you feel unsafe after entering, please ask to speak with a manager or contact us after your visit at Info@CMEE.org. We value your feedback and will work with you to find a solution.
Yes, visitors can use guest passes for the timed admission. There is a $5/person COVID cleaning fee.
Yes! If you have an EBT card and would like to visit the Museum, please make a reservation here.
Visitors are asked to keep their stroller with them at all times. Please do not leave it unattended other than outside specific exhibits where strollers are not allowed.
Yes, you can bring in your own food, which we encourage you to eat outslide. Food may not be eaten in the exhibition galleries.
Yes, the vending machines will be available.
Museum capacity is limited. If you need a quiet space, please ask a staff member for assistance.
Exhibits & Programs
What exhibits are open/closed?All exhibits at the Museum are open.
Only one family should be in an exhibit area at one time. For example, if a family is already in the Fire Truck, please visit another area until they are gone.
The Museum has dramatically increased the number of activities. We encourage visitors to spend as much time as possible outdoors.
Additional staff will be present throughout the whole Museum as a safety reminder for visitors to keep their mask on, to stay physically distant, to wash/sanitize hands regularly, and to do their part in providing regular wipe-downs in high-traffic areas.
Members
Do I have to make a reservation?For your safety and so that the number of people in the building can be limited, all visitors, need to make a reservation in advance. Make a reservation here.
Private Events & Groups
Can I reserve a special event?Yes. With more than 7,000 square feet of usable event space, including seasonal outdoor space, CMEE is well suited to hosts events under the guidelines and recommendations of the local public health department.
Our special event coordinator will work with you in designing your event in this new environment. The safety and well-being of you and your guests is our top priority. For additional information, please email info@cmee.org.
Yes! We look forward to hosting your school, camp, or community organizations group. Please contact info@cmee.org to arrange a group visit.