HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – After being closed for more than three months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Havre Beneath the Streets and the Frank DeRosa Railroad Museum have reopened to the public with limited hours.
Office Manager Christy Owens says the museum has been hampered financially by the lengthy closure, which forced them to cancel tours and fundraisers.
“We didn’t get our normal field trips that come to us in the spring to get us kicked off into the summer. And then also, usually, in the past few years, we’ve had our living history event which has been held that first weekend in June. And we were unable to hold that event as well.”
Owens adds that they are still in need of funding to repair the sidewalk at the end of the Beneath the Streets tour.
“We’ve kind of been at a standstill. We have had some donations still come in, we’ve got folks that have mailed checks into us and things like that, small donors. And we greatly appreciate that. Our fundraising events and things like that have unfortunately been put on hold.”
Owens says she is also concerned that Amtrak’s service cuts to the Empire Builder beginning in October could decrease museum attendance.
“For us, as a tourism site, we do get a lot of folks that are traveling on Amtrak…The exact numbers, how it would impact us, I wouldn’t know for sure. But definitely, we do get a lot of train travelers that come to visit us. Limiting the days will limit those amounts.”
Patrons are strongly encouraged to wear masks and practice social distancing.
Current office hours for Beneath the Streets is Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM.
For more information, contact Beneath the Streets at 265-8888.
