Museum L-A  will reopen its gallery to visitors beginning Wednesday, July 7. The museum’s new visitor hours include Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Currently, the gallery exhibit is “Our Working Waterway,” featuring the Androscoggin River.

“We are thrilled to have visitors back inside Museum L-A and to offer the community the opportunity to once again explore this beloved cultural institution,” stated Audrey Thomson, Museum L-A’s executive director. “We’ve missed the thousands of people who visit our exhibits each year.”

In preparing for reopening, the Museum has prioritized three goals:

· Protecting the health and safety of its staff and visitors. To that end, all staff and visitors will be required to wear face coverings at all times.

· Continuing to deliver on its mission to connect generations and cultures, foster a spirit of discovery and human ingenuity, and help people experience the rich history and heritage of work, the arts, and community.

· Contributing to the recovery of the region by welcoming families and visitors of all ages.

“Our Working Waterway” dives into the history of the Androscoggin River and its effects on the industrial development of many cities throughout Maine. Visitors will learn how people have used this important waterway to develop manufacturing centers, polluted the river’s waters, and worked hard to clean and maintain the river throughout history. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Muskie’s Clean Water Act, and there is currently a bill before the legislature to reclassify the river from Class C to Class B. This exhibit was funded in part by a grant from the Maine Bicentennial Commission.

The museum’s gift shop, La Boutique Rouge, will be open during visitor hours, too. In the gift shop are books, textiles, toys, postcards, oral histories on CD, and other Lewiston-Auburn items.

Admission to the gallery is $4 for students and seniors (age 65 and older), and $5 for adults.

Museum L-A is located at 35 Canal St., in the Bates Mill No. 1, in Lewiston. The entrance to the museum’s parking lot is at 36 Chestnut St. More information and digital tours can be found online at www.museumla.org. Send questions to info@museumla.org.