After several weeks closed, museums around the metro are excited to welcome families back. Following important safety protocols, many local museums are offering ticketed tours so families can safely enjoy a visit and easily follow social distancing guidelines.

Families can enjoy a few other perks including free admission at several metro venues!

Thanks to the generosity of two local families, the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art is offering complimentary admission through August. Discover Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Renaissance and Native American art including actual mummies! The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Masks are recommended.

Oklahoma Hall of Fame’s Summer Thursdays are a staple of free family fun! Held virtually in the beginning weeks of summer, families are now invited to enjoy fun activities during the museum’s modified hours. Held three days a week instead of just one, families have even more opportunity to learn about impactful Oklahomans. August ushers in back to school and the activities follow along this theme. Enjoy free museum admission as well as crafts, a scavenger hunt, an Oklahomans are Amazing series and more on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Aug. 6.

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art announced in June that kids and teens can now visit the museum for free! The museum has expanded family friendly amenities in recent years and now offer grab & go activities inspired by the art on display like this summer’s POP Power exhibition. The museum requires guests to wear masks and utilizes timed ticketing so visitors have ample space to explore. The extensive collection of Dale Chihuly’s glass is always a popular sight for visitors of all ages and the vibrant colors and shapes encompass most of the museum’s third floor.

Several museums and organizations have featured art pieces highlighting Oklahoma Contemporary’s grand opening and their inaugural exhibition Bright Golden Haze. The Oklahoma History Center has a 600-foot maze of yellow fabric meandering around the museum’s grounds and three interactives inspired by the musical Oklahoma! Hiding around Myriad Gardens’ Meinders Garden are softly blinking fireflies created by Oklahoma artist Nathan Pratt. The mixed media pieces take inspiration from the innocence of childhood as a setting sun meets the enchanting glow of fireflies.

I hope your family finds these creative spaces as a moment of positivity and inspiration.