Tanner House Museum Opens For First Time After Two-Year Shutdown

Aurora IL

02 December, 2021

1:30 PM

Description

AURORA, IL — After two years of COVID-19-forced closure, the William Tanner House Museum in Aurora is reopening to guests on Sundays in December. Once home to prominent merchant William Tanner, the Italianate-style house will be open for walk-through tours starting at noon and running through 4 p.m. Dec. 5, Dec. 12, Dec. 19 and Dec. 26. The property, currently decorated for the holidays, is located at 305 Cedar St. Guests can tour the museum for free, though donations are encouraged. Tours will flow in one direction through the first floor of the house — in through the front door, out through the kitchen door. The second floor will be closed this year since the narrow staircase "makes social distancing impossible," according to a news release from Aurora Historical Society President Mary Clark Ormond. Docents also won't be around to provide commentary. "We have had to be cautious at the Tanner House," John Jaros, executive director of the Aurora Historical Society, said in a statement. "Indoors the spaces are very tight, and the rooms are filled with a lot of furniture which makes social distancing a challenge. But people love this house and they especially love the holiday décor. We felt that we could share the beauty again, if we took sensible health precautions." The home's pantry will serve as a gift shop for visitors wanting memorabilia, including a vintage Aurora calendar, embroidered chef aprons, infant onesies and laser-cut slate items. Ahead of the reopening, the Aurora Historial Society, which owns and operates the museum, is looking for volunteers to help in two-hour shifts. "We will try to create two-hour shifts to not overburden anyone, but that means we need twice as many volunteers," Ormond said in a statement. "Volunteers will just stand in each room. No formal speaking to the groups, although volunteers can interact with visitors. We just want to keep exhalations to a low level." Volunteers should be fully vaccinated, and everyone is required to wear face masks. Reservations are not required to visit. People looking to volunteer can contact Ormond at [email protected] or 630-306-5491. (For more news and information like this, subscribe to the Aurora Patch for free. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. Don't forget to like us on Facebook!)