Historic Saranac Lake’s Saranac Laboratory museum is re-open, operating under limited hours and strict guidelines in order to keep their patrons and their staff healthy. The museum is the first laboratory in the nation that was built for the study of tuberculosis, showcasing Saranac Lakes history as a community that built a bustling economy around the response to an infectious disease.

Museum staff expects that visitors will find Saranac Lakes history relevant once again in response to COVID-19. The museum is currently open on Thursdays through Saturdays from 10am or 5pm, and visitors are encouraged to check out historicsaranaclake.org for updates.

“Our team is excited to welcome back locals and tourists to the museum to learn about Saranac Lake’s rich history and, perhaps now more than ever, use our past to put current events into perspective. We are prioritizing the safety of visitors by requiring anyone over the age of two who is medically able, to wear a face mask at all times while in the building. Staff will be wearing masks as well, and plexiglass barriers are in place at our ticket desk. We also ask visitors to move in one direction through the museum and maintain a distance of at least six feet from other groups.” Says Amy Catania, HSL’s executive director. “

Historic Saranac Lake has also reduced visitor capacity and is only allowing two groups into the museum at a time, as an added safety measure. Patrons are encouraged to go online and reserve a time to tour the Laboratory. Reservations are recommended but not required. Parties who do not book in advance may be asked to wait if another group is in the museum. To make reservations visit this link. The screening room is currently closed as well but all videos have been made available online and are streamable on phones and devices. Audio tour stops are available online as well, along with a virtual version of HSL’s Art of the Cure exhibit.

To learn more about what to expect during this summer at HSL’s Saranac Laboratory Museum, visit their website at:  historicsaranaclake.org/visit.html