Lake Champlain Maritime Museum to be Free for All Visitors in 2021

    VERGENNES, VT, March 10, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Lake Champlain Maritime Museum announced today that they are eliminating admission fees for 2021, making it free for everyone to visit. The museum will be open from May 22–Oct. 17 featuring new all-outside exhibits, self-guided tours, and more.

Last March, the museum made the difficult decision to remain closed for the 2020 season due to COVID-19. Amid the unprecedented challenges caused by the global pandemic, the museum found new ways to stay connected with enthusiastic audiences of all ages and continued to share important stories of history and ecology. The 2021 season will invest in these successes, increase access for all to the region's history and environment, and further the museum's commitment to building a healthier and stronger community through several new initiatives:

• No admission fees: The museum will be free for all visitors and open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To ensure easy access and safety for all, the museum will be entirely outside with self-guided tour options for guests to explore the three-acre campus. Indoor galleries will remain closed.

• Outside and online exhibits: In 2021 the museum will install two new exhibits onsite and online. "Prohibition in the Champlain Valley" and "Lake Health" will bring together stories from the region's history, archaeology, and ecology. These new exhibits will explore the complex relationships between government and individuals, examine the natural and man-made threats to the lake, and inspire action and present-day connections. In addition, other outside exhibits and experiences at the museum include "Women at the Helm," "Maritime History on Display," the museum's replica Revolutionary War gunboat Philadelphia II displayed "on the hard" on the museum grounds, and the replica canal schooner Lois McClure docked in North Harbor for the 2021 season. Visitors can step aboard the Lois McClure every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

• Pay-What-You-Can summer camps and expeditions: As previously announced, the museum introduced a new tuition model for all summer camps and teen expeditions to make sure that all children have equal access to a great summer on Lake Champlain. Families can see the 2021 camps and expeditions line-up and register online at www.lcmm.org/Camps.

"Lake Champlain Maritime Museum tells the stories of the Champlain Valley in a way that encourages visitors to look to the past and see what is possible for the future" said executive director Susan Evans McClure. "We want people to see Lake Champlain as their lake, and we are committed to removing barriers that prevent people from accessing this history, their lake, and the museum."

The 2021 season of exhibits, free admission, and pay-what-you-can camps and expeditions are made possible with support from Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership, Lake Champlain Basin Program, and the museum's members and donors.

The museum will be regularly sharing updates on exhibits and season events on their website and social media. Follow along and plan your 2021 visit: www.lcmm.org/Visit.

About Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
Founded in 1985 with the mission to preserve and share the cultural and natural heritage of the Lake Champlain region, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum is building a healthy future and community for Lake Champlain. Through education, exhibits and historic boats, research, and collections, the Museum connects people to the region's history, ecology, and archaeology and creates opportunities for hands-on learning that will last a lifetime. Year-round education programs serve more than 2,500 K-12 students, as well as hundreds of educators locally and nationally. For more information, visit www.lcmm.org.

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