DECATUR, Ala. — As many local museums reopen, staff are welcoming guests with safety in mind. On Tuesday, the Cook Museum of Natural Science in Decatur opened its doors after being closed for nearly four months.
The opening was for museum members only. However, the museum will be open to the public on Wednesday, July 8th.
"We're just, after being closed and being in the tight venue, we are just so excited to have people back in here," says Cook Museum of Natural Science Executive Director, Scott Mayo.
Mayo says there have been changes. "Some of the exhibits we've altered. Our touch screens, many of the touch screens we've put on a loop video to where you get the same experience but instead of touching it and driving the experience you're going to sit there and watch and go through the same information," says Mayo.
"Our crowd favorites is our sand table. We've modified that. We've got gloves available. And you'll see sprinkled throughout the museum we have hand sanitizer stations," added Mayo.
While some entertainment was removed, something new was added. The museum welcomed the critically endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtle, Kale. Kale, while still a juvenile, was hooked by a recreational fisherman off a pier on Chesapeake Bay, Virginia last year.
Kale is 4 to 6 years old, and he arrived last month from the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center. Due to his injuries, staff say he is a non-releasable sea turtle. Live animal manager, Cassie Elias, says Kale is the most endangered sea turtle species in the world.
"It's really great to be able to have this animal that people already want to come back to the museum. But they get to come and see this new special animal that we're able to teach them about is pretty awesome," says Elias.
The Cook Museum of Natural Science will host 'Turtle Fun Day' on Friday and Saturday. It'll be a time-ticketed event.