BATON ROUGE, La. - Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser announced Monday that all nine state museum facilities across Louisiana will temporarily close to aid in the prevention of the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Additionally, only the restroom facilities will remain open at welcome centers across the state, except in New Orleans and at the State Capitol where the welcome center facility will close completely. The lobby of each remaining welcome center will close to visitors. These closures will last at least through March 31. The Office of the Lieutenant Governor will monitor the situation and make a determination on any extension of these temporary closures in the coming weeks.
The state museum facilities temporarily closing include:
New Orleans
The Cabildo
The Presbytère
The New Orleans Jazz Museum
Madam John's Legacy
1850 House
Baton Rouge
Capitol Park Museum
Natchitoches
Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum
Thibodaux, Lafourche Parish
E.D. White Historic Site
Patterson, St. Mary Parish
Wedell-Williams Aviation and Cypress Sawmill Museum
The welcome centers temporarily closing include:
From Texas
Greenwood Welcome Center; I-20 East from Dallas
Vinton Welcome Center; I-10 East from Beaumont
From Mississippi
Mound Welcome Center; I-20 West from Vicksburg
St. Francisville Welcome Center; U.S. 61 South from Moundville
Kentwood Welcome Center; I-55 South from McComb
Pearl River Welcome Center; I-59 South from Picayune
Slidell Welcome Center; I-10 West from Gulfport
Within Louisiana
New Orleans Welcome Center; 529 St. Ann Street
Baton Rouge Welcome Center; State Capitol
Atchafalaya Welcome Center; I-10 St. Martin Parish
"It's with the safety of the people across Louisiana, and any visitors we may have in our state right now, at the top of mind that we have decided to temporarily close these facilities to do our part in helping to flatten the curve on the coronavirus to help the state emerge from this situation," said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. "During this time, our staff will ensure these facilities are sanitized and ready to welcome back visitors who are so important to the success of our museums and welcome centers."