Rainy Days: Best Museum Visits Ever

By: Erin Crissman, Curator I've spent a lot of my life visiting and working at outdoor living history museums. It took me a little while to understand that rainy days are real treasures in the museum season. At first, it might seem like a terrible idea to trek to an outdoor museum in the rain. Most of them have unpaved roads, and since they're outdoor museums, you will probably be outside.

Not so fast! Venturing out in the rain may be one of your most rewarding museum visits. Here are a few reasons why visiting The Farmers' Museum (or working here!) on a rainy day is a privilege.

1) Most people don't want to visit in the rain. But, if YOU visit, you'll benefit from the slower pace and thin crowds.
2) Talking to interpretive staff can be even more fun. With fewer visitors, they're usually able to spend more time with you, sit down and chat, and even help you try out a few new things. 3) In the early fall, and sometimes on these rainy summer days, historic fireplaces are glowing with a toasty-warm fire. 4) Although technically outside, the buildings are very close together, so if you're willing to run between the raindrops you won't even get wet! Stay and play games in the country fair tent for as long as you like. Remember to wear rain boots and bring an umbrella and an extra jacket. I've acquired cute pink rain boots, and more recenty, some rainy-day shoes. If you have a family with small children, bring some extra clothes and hot chocolate for the ride home in case they're a little damp and chilly. Rainy days were, and still are, some of my favorite days at work. Hope you'll venture out to a living history museum on a rainy day, too!