GRAND ISLAND - Stuhr Museum has been forced to close its doors to the public, but it looks at this situation as less of a struggle, and more of an opportunity.

Executive Director Chris Hochstetler says, “I think this is an incredibly creative time. It is certainly challenging, but in times of challenge and trouble, creativity rises to the top.”

So far, the museum has added a number of online resources like virtual tours of exhibitions, behind the scenes videos showing unseen areas, segments diving deeper into a specific ‘artifact of the day’, and a series called Hall County Quarantined that looks back at times in history where Nebraskans overcame situations similar to ones we face today. The Museum is hoping these opportunities will spark some interest.

Hochstetler says, “When you go through a museum, you remember snippets, things you personally connect to, so our efforts are to inspire somebody so they will come out and check us out, and take a deeper dive into something that is personal for them.”

Chris Hochstetler says the ‘Wings over the Platte’ display is his favorite right now. He says a virtual tour will show the public what makes it so special sometime this week. He also noted, many of the videos are not just for entertainment, they also carry educational value.

“I have challenged our staff to dive deep into the statewide standards… so that we can provide a benefit to teachers, and to students who are kept at home.”

If you are interested in visiting the museum from the comfort of your living room, you are encouraged to follow Stuhr Museum on Facebook, and build a connection with the business.

“This place is really a place of community. Even if it is just virtually, we need that engagement – we thrive on that engagement.”

The museum is also offering special membership deals and accepting donations to help them stay afloat while missing out on revenue from admissions.