Historic Stranahan House in downtown Fort Lauderdale is welcoming guests back to the museum beginning Friday, June 12. Stranahan House has been closed since March 16 due to the pandemic.

Public tours will be available through the month of June at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Private tours for families and educational groups can be reserved by emailing education@stranahanhouse.org, or calling (954) 524-4736.

Adhering to guidelines from the CDC, Department of Health and local and state government officials, Stranahan House is following all capacity and distancing requirements. Among the necessary modifications to the Stranahan House experience are:

• Face coverings are required for all guests. Staff and volunteers will be wearing masks.
• Public tours will be limited. A greeter at the entrance will welcome guests and explain protocols. Guests will then move to the front porch to purchase tickets with cash or a credit card.
• A curated experience led by a museum docent will take guests throughout the grounds and interior of the museum in a one-way path. There is a separate entrance and exit to allow for one-way paths.
• Hand sanitizers are available throughout the property.
• All doors and railings will be thoroughly wiped down after each tour.
• Some furnishings have been moved in the museum to allow for social distancing.
• Restrooms and the administration office are closed to the public.
• As always, no food or drink are allowed in the museum.
• No parking is available on-site. Parking is available in the Riverside Hotel parking garage or along Las Olas Boulevard.

“We are eager to be able to welcome back our visitors, but our primary responsibility is to keep our guests, staff and volunteers safe and healthy,” said April Kirk, executive director of Stranahan House. “While this will be a gradual process, we hope that by reopening the museum, we can provide community healing through history, cultural arts and storytelling after this devastating pandemic.”

Stranahan House will continue to offer family-friendly live-streaming virtual experiences throughout the summer via Facebook every Wednesday at 11 a.m. Those who tune in will enjoy complimentary storytimes and virtual historical tours. Additionally, Stranahan House will share at-home activities every Monday throughout the summer. To access the content, visit www.facebook.com/StranahanHouse.

About Historic Stranahan House Museum

The Stranahan House was built in 1901, when Broward County was no more than a bleak southern frontier supposedly unsuited for human habitation. The existing residents were the Seminoles who traveled down the New River to Frank Stranahan’s trading post to do business. Over the years as Fort Lauderdale grew and developed, the house became a post office, boarding house, restaurant and home to the “Founding Father” and “First Lady” of Fort Lauderdale – Ivy and Frank Stranahan. Today it stands as the oldest house in Fort Lauderdale and an epicenter of Broward County’s long and fascinating history. For more information, visit www.stranahanhouse.org. Stranahan House is located in the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District in Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit www.riverwalkae.com.