The Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village in Dover reopened this week after being shuttered since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
And it will look different to visitors who return.
The 30,000-square-foot Ag Museum is sporting a whole new look, thanks to renovations done while it was closed.
Ag Museum executive director Carolyn Claypoole says her staff worked for many weeks to refresh most of the Museums’ exhibits and renovate the entire back section of the building.
“The project has taken on a life of its own," said Claypoole. "We started this with the installation of new insulation in different areas of the building and also new heating and AC units.”
Claypoole says 9,000-square-feet of space was also painted.
“So we prepped everything over a three week period; we moved all the exhibits out of there and everything - so it was basically a shell," said Claypoole. "And then we had a professional painting crew come in for three days and finish the job because the walls are 30...30-some-odd-feet.”
Claypoole says new windows, carpeting and pergo flooring were installed as well.
"The renovations were part of the Bond Bill money that we received from the State in - I believe that was in September of 2019 is when we received the funds - and it was all for HVAC related upgrades to our facilities,” said Claypoole.
Claypoole says private donations also helped fund the renovations.
The Museum also updated its website to include more content and make it more user friendly.
The Ag Museum opened to the public in 1980 and showcases 19th and 20th century exhibits. More information is available at the Museum’s website.
