Tour guide Maggie Webster, right, describes the early pioneer technique of silhouette printing in the Putnam House at Campus Martius Museum on opening day June 25. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)

MARIETTA — Tentative tourism reopened June 25 at Campus Martius Museum and the Ohio River Museum in Marietta.

“We’ve adjusted Friday hours to add an opening between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. for those at high-risk (due to coronavirus),” said Naomi Schock as she wiped down the front counter of Campus Martius Museum behind plastic partitions.

Both Campus Martius and the Ohio River Museum opened June 25, for the first time giving tours since the pandemic necessitated door closure in March.

“It’s been a slow trickle in today of people, but a lot are calling us and asking when we’re open so I expect we’ll see a lot more (today) and over the weekend,” said Schock.

She explained that each level of both museums has limited capacity to encourage social distancing.

“And though you enter here at the front, you’re exiting now out of the basement into our parking lot,” she said.

Glenna Hoff, education director for the museum, also noted that summer day camps are back on the menu for Campus Martius.

“Those are scheduled in July and we’re getting a couple of parents calling to book, I hope it helps them, I know childcare has to be hard with them back to work,” she said.

Similarly, other tourist attractions across the Mid-Ohio Valley have reopened, though some with changed hours for a shortened summer tourism season.

The Castle has opted for virtual summer camp days, while Trolley Tours began June 27.

“The only museum not opening this summer is the Children’s Toy and Doll Museum in Harmar and we haven’t yet heard from the Henry Fearing House (also in Marietta’s lower west side),” said Deana Clark, executive director of the Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “And the Oliver Tucker Museum (in Beverly) has adjusted their hours to only Saturday’s from noon to 4 p.m. or by appointment.”

Clark noted that tourists looking for guidance from the bureau have increased as Ohio has slowly reopened over June.

“We’ve had people in from Indiana, Florida, but yes, mostly Ohio. Yesterday a couple came from Canton, we’ve had calls from Cleveland,” said Clark.

Schock said visits and calls are still being driven by author David McCullough’s “The Pioneers,” too.

“At least every other person has read or is reading it,” she said.

So the hope for a salvaged tourism season remains, not only for the museums but also the surrounding businesses including restaurants and gift/antique stores visited in non-COVID year.

Janelle Patterson may be reached at jpatterson@mariettatimes.com.

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Local Museums and Historical Sites Now Open

* Anchorage, Hidden Marietta

* Belpre Farmers Castle Museum and Education Center

* Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park

* Campus Martius Museum

* Henderson Hall

* Mound Cemetery

* Ohio River Museum

* Oliver Tucker Museum

* Peoples Mortuary Museum

* The Castle

* The Wilds

* Trolley Tours

* Unicorn Wine Guild

* Valley Gem Sternwheeler

* Veterans Gallery

Source: Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau