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Museum To Temporarily Close For Renovations

Beginning on April 16, the Geneva History Museum will be closed to the public for a renovation project.  Chrisanntha Construction will oversee the project that will include-

• Creating a new, accessible front entrance.
• Installing an elevator, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, and ADA compliant bathrooms.
• Improvements to the primary exhibit spaces.

The museum will reopen in the fall of 2024.

Our renovation project has several goals.  First, many of the museum’s public areas are in inaccessible parts of the building.  Making the museum accessible to all is essential and will enable us to retain the active engagement of our current supporters and visitors and open the prospect of attracting new visitors that otherwise would or could not visit.  Improving accessibility demonstrates that we are for the whole community.  Second, we do not have an HVAC system.  The HVAC system will improve the health and safety of our visitors, volunteers, and staff. It will also provide consistent environmental monitoring for our collection storage areas.  Installation of a heat pump system will ensure the long-term stability of our collections which have been suffering from mold outbreaks due to increased summer humidity.  Finally, in addition to new lighting and flooring, upgrades to the Hucker Gallery will expand our capacity for public programs and as a community meeting space.

Since 1960 the Prouty-Chew House on South Main Street has served as Historic Geneva’s headquarters and as the Geneva History Museum.  Built in 1829, it was a private home that has been converted into a museum. The museum features local history exhibits and a gift shop.  It also houses Historic Geneva’s offices, collections storage, and research room.

The project is funded by a generous bequest from the late Robert “Jim” Brennan.  The bequest has funded various deferred maintenance projects at the museum and Rose Hill Mansion including rehabilitating the mansion’s belvedere and replacing roofs at both sites.

The museum may be closed but we will still find ways to tell Geneva’s stories.  Rose Hill opens on May 1 for guided tours with a full schedule of programs and events including free summer concerts, an interactive theatrical event, and Family Day.  Programs like our Spring Program Series, History Happy Hours, and walking tours will continue in venues around the community.  Though the Research Room will be closed, research requests can be made over the phone, through social media, or via email at archivist@historicgeneva.org. Over the summer we will have a booth at community events including the Farmers Market.  We are also open (virtually) 24/7 through our website, Facebook, and Instagram.

During the closure the best way to contact museum staff is via email at info@historicgeneva.org or call 315-789-5151 Monday – Friday.  For donations to Historic Geneva’s three dimensional collection email curator@historicgeneva.org or archivist@historicgeneva.org for donations to the archival collection.

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