Due to health concerns the Thunder Bay Museum is closed to the public starting on Wednesday, 18 March 2020.

The closure includes all programs, lectures, special events, rentals, tours, and in person research in our archive and library.

We are offering a FREE LIVE WEBINAR SERIES called HUMP DAY HISTORY: more information can be found here: https://www.thunderbaymuseum.com/webinars/

Refunds will be issued for those rentals already scheduled and prepaid.  Though we respectfully ask that if you have a rental that could be rescheduled that you consider that option first.

If you have stories, photographs, or even artifacts related to your Pandemic experiences and would like to donate them please visit here: https://www.thunderbaymuseum.com/covid-19-stories/

It is unclear at this time if the Thunder Bay Museum will be holding summer camp in 2020. Registration has been put on hold for the moment and we will let you know as soon as possible if/when this changes.

Our 2020 Classic Car Raffle has been extended, the prize draw will now take place on 1 May 2021, more information can be found here: https://www.thunderbaymuseum.com/community-programming/special-events-activities/classic-car-raffle/

The Museum’s Taste of History Dinner has been rescheduled for Friday, 18 September 2020.  Already purchased tickets will remain valid.  For more information about this event visit here: https://www.thunderbaymuseum.com/community-programming/special-events-activities/taste-of-history/

The staff will be available by phone or email to answer research requests, however we ask for patience during this challenging time, due to the shutdown order from the Province of Ontario our staff are teleworking and do not have access to all of the Museum’s archival materials.

We will re-evaluate the situation after the the Province of Ontario lifts the mandatory shutdown order, which has been extended to 9 June 2020.

Any announcements about when we will reopen shall be made on our social media and this website.

Re-Opening Plan

After museums and similar institutions are authorized to reopen by the Provincial government the Thunder Bay Museum will reopen gradually with a focus on the safety of our staff and volunteers.  Below are the different stages of our reopening plan and what visitors can expect. All of this is subject to change as the Pandemic is situation that is evolving daily.

  • Stage 1: Staff Only – 2 to 3 weeks
    • Preparing the building: sneeze guards, signage, cleaning, flush water system, etc.
  • Stage 2: By appointment only: researchers, family groups, and current volunteers
    • Family groups by appointment allows the museum to manage the number of people in the building to meet Provincial limits on the size of social gatherings
    • Pre-screening of all visitors
    • Mandatory masks
    • Hand sanitizing station
    • Social Distancing Requirements
    • Constant cleaning of commonly touched surfaces
    • Interactives removed or covered
    • Benches removed or blocked
    • Free Tuesdays postponed until Stage 4
    • Visitor use of public washrooms may be limited
    • Public water fountains will not be available
    • Access to the 2nd and 3rd floors will only be available by elevator, the stairwell will be for staff only
    • Gift shop transactions only by Debit or Credit Card
  • Stage 3: When the province removes limits on the size of social gatherings
    • No appointments necessary
    • Mandatory masks
    • Hand sanitizing station
    • Social Distancing Requirements
    • Daily cleaning of commonly touched surfaces
    • Visitor use of public washrooms may be limited
    • Public water fountains will not be available
  • Stage 4: Post-wide-spread vaccine distribution and administration
    • Return to normal protocols