The Philadelphia Museum of History will close to the public on Monday, July 2, according to an article on Philly.com. The closure is currently listed as a temporary measure, but no timeframe for reopening has been given. The museum, formerly known as the Atwater Kent Museum, is mandated by the city charter. While closed to the public, the museum will continue to serve as a repository for the city’s historical artifacts.
The suspension comes in the wake of a substantial decrease in funding for fiscal year 2019 and the loss of two positions necessary for public hours. There was hope that a partnership with Temple University would allow the museum to continue its normal operations. However, Temple dean Joe Lucia announced on Wednesday that talks had broken down. A previous partnership attempt with the Woodmere Art Museum in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood failed in 2015.
A spokesperson for Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney indicates that the mayor intends to work towards a solution that will reopen the museum, but could not specify which measures were being taken.