<strong>From staff reports</strong>

Beaufort History Museum will be receiving assistance to bridge the gap in lost funds and help it emerge from closure in a healthier financial position. The museum was closed from March until earlier this week as a result of Covid-19 restrictions.

The Museum received a Bridge Grant from South Carolina Humanities. Funding for the Bridge Grants has been provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act economic stabilization plan.

The Museum, located in the historic Arsenal on Craven Street, was awarded $2,500 that will be allocated to offset lost revenue and pay for ongoing operating expenses.

“We closed our doors in mid-March in keeping with the Governor’s directives and according to CDC recommendations so that we could keep our staff, visitors and the collection safe,” BHM Board President Steve Guida said in a release. “We also had to cancel our largest fundraising event, so we are facing a significant loss of income. The grant from South Carolina Humanities is timely assistance for which we are very thankful.”

The Museum is offering free admission through June 30.

Since its inception in 1939, Beaufort History Museum’s mission has been to educate the community and visitors about the district’s extraordinary 500-year history, which has shaped the evolution of America from it’s beginning. The organization offers docent–led and self-guided tours of its valuable collection and exhibits.