Health & Safety
It is a top priority to keep our Center a safe and healthy space and to protect the well-being of our visitors, staff, and volunteers!
Harsco Science Center and Select Medical Digital Cinema are now open with capacity limitations. Due to limited availability, guests are encouraged to purchase tickets to visit Harsco Science Center (HSC) and Select Medical Digital Cinema (SMD) in advance. Walk up tickets may be purchased if maximum capciaty has not been reached. Tickets to attend HSC are currently priced at our welcome back discount of $10 per person. Children age 2 and younger are free. Whitaker Center is currently open Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM.
Digital cinema-only tickets can be purchased in advance for $9.50 for adults (ages 18 and over) and $8 for juniors (ages 2-17). Guests with tickets to the science center are able to add a documentary movie to their visit for a discounted price, upon arrival at the Center.
Members receive free admission and should not reserve their ticket in advance. A specific number of tickets have been reserved for members each day, and members only need to show their membership card and Photo ID to enter.
ONLY our 3rd Street entrance will be open. All guests must enter at our 3rd Street doors. For those parking in Walnut Street Garage, please follow signs to Strawberry Square where guests will be directed down the escalator or elevator to the street level. After taking this indoor walk, guests can exit the building, cross the street, and enter directly into the building at the 3rd Street entrance.
Safety Procedures of Guests
Visitors age 2 years and over are required to wear masks or other close-fitting face coverings over their nose and mouth. Museum staff and volunteers will be wearing masks, too. We follow the most recent PA Department of Health guidelines in order to offer the highest level of protection to everyone that enters our facility. Visitors who, for medical reasons, cannot wear a mask or other close-fitting face covering may instead wear a plastic face shield that covers the nose and mouth, extends below the chin and to the ears and leaves no exposed gap between the forehead and the shield's headpiece. In all circumstances, an appropriate face covering of some kind is now required of all visitors. If you have questions, please email us at info@whitakercenter.org.
Upon your arrival at our 3rd Street entrance, you will be asked if you have any of the COVID-19 symptoms, which will be listed on nearby signage. If you or anyone in your party answers “yes” to any of the symptom screening questions, you will be respectfully asked to visit at another time for the safety of all. You and everyone in your group will undergo temperature checks using a touchless thermometer. If a temperature registers 100.4 Fahrenheit/38 degrees Celsius or greater, you can request a second temperature check. If both readings show a temperature of 100.4 Fahrenheit/38 degrees Celsius or greater or any visitor declines the temperature screen or wearing a face mask, that visitor will be asked to visit at another time.
Hand sanitizing stations are located throughout the facility and can be used as you move through the exhibits.
We always follow PA Department of Health & CDC guidelines to proactively protect our visitors and have taken the following precautionary measures:
- Advanced cleaning methods and increased frequency and level of cleaning and disinfecting in all areas of the center, including additional wipe downs of all exhibits, handrails, benches, door handles, toys, and other surfaces contacted by the public. All cleaning protocols throughout the entire facility are CDC-approved and we use hospital-grade disinfectants.
- Increased supply of hand sanitizer stations throughout the Center.
- Frequent communication and education on preventing infection spread - both in the Center and through our digital channels.
The PA Department of Health & CDC also recommends everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of respiratory diseases:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
- Stay home if you are sick and seek medical care
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and wash your hands after
Community Resources:
