July update on PRI’s actions in response to COVID-19

July 28, 2020

We continue to closely monitor information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), NYS Department of Health, and our local health department to help ensure that we are taking appropriate precautions to ensure the safety of our visitors and staff, as well as doing our part to try to help in the mitigation of the COVID-19 virus.

At the Paleontological Research Institution’s offices in Palmer Hall

The majority of our workforce is continuing to do their work remotely, and our offices remain closed to the public for the immediate future. You can still reach us during normal business hours at 607-273-6623. If the person you are trying to reach is not onsite, our system is set up to respond to your messages as soon as possible. You can find our staff phone and email addresses here.

At Museum of the Earth

The Museum of the Earth is reopening on a limited basis on August 8, 2020 (there is a Member’s Preview weekend on August 1-3). The Museum will be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10 am – 5 pm, with advanced tickets being required for visitors. You can reserve your tickets here. Find more details here. For your protection, masks and social distancing are required of all visitors to the Museum.

PRI hosts many excellent resources on Earth, life, and climate sciences online, check them out here. and an expanding number of the Museum’s exhibits can be found online here.

At Cayuga Nature Center

The Cayuga Nature Center’s trails are now open every day from 10 am – 5 pm for free Donations for the Nature Center’s upkeep are appreciated–you can support the Nature Center here. The Lodge and Tree Tops tree house will remain closed until further notice. Our trails at Smith Woods in Trumansburg are also open to the public. We ask that everyone visiting practice social distancing and wear masks when distancing is not possible.

Your support is vital at this time

The current closures and program cancellations are creating a financial stress for many organizations, including our own. During this time, while we are maintaining live animal care, grounds, and facilities, gifts of any size are always appreciated. If you would like to support our continuing mission, please go to our Support Us page.

About PRI

The Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) pursues and integrates education and research, and interprets the history and systems of the Earth and its life, to increase knowledge, educate society, and encourage wise stewardship of the Earth. PRI and its two public venues for education, the Museum of the Earth and the Cayuga Nature Center, are separate from, but formally affiliated with Cornell University, and interact closely with numerous University departments in research, teaching, and public outreach.