The Natick History Museum, located downstairs at the Bacon Free Library at 58 Eliot St., is slated to reopen in April after closing in March of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and remaining closed for all but appointments during space renovation and collection refinement. The museum is operated by the Natick Historical Society, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year.

The society began its museum renovation in 2017 and reopened in 2018 at 2 spaces—artifacts in the museum and archives at a temporary location across the street, says Niki Lefebvre, the society’s executive director.

“The pandemic only hastened our realization that maintaining both spaces on a permanent basis would be too challenging for a staff of two part-timers and too confusing to the public. So, we determined to keep our center in our historic home and to retrofit some of our space to better suit our needs,” Lefebvre says. “We’ve also done a great deal of work refining our collections so that we can devote time and resources to the historical materials that really make Natick’s history resonate.”

Lefebvre says she thinks interest in local history has grown in recent years.

“I believe part of that surge was fueled by pandemic boredom, but I also feel there is a growing recognition that local history is integral to how we steward communities and how we understand our neighbors,” she adds.

As for what to expect when the museum reopens, there won’t be any whiz-bang technology displays. But there will be new exhibits and easier access to archival resources. While it doesn’t sound as if the museum acquired any eye-popping new items during its closure, Lefebvre says some documents and other artifacts that haven’t been exhibited in years or decades will get their chance to shine.

The society has also been building its relationships with members of Natick’s Nipmuc communities to help center Indigenous people in its work.

You’ll be able to learn more about the society’s plans for the museum and its 150th anniversary celebration at its annual meeting, slated for Sunday, Feb. 26, 2-3pm (attend online).