Hello, this is a little beyond the usual topic for C2C, but y'all are the best resource I know!
I'm wondering what policies other institutions have regarding visitors bringing water into the museum galleries.
Our current policy is to allow visitors to bring only water into the historic house museum, and only if it is in a clear, unbreakable bottle.
The cafés and gift shops used to sell pre-filled clear plastic bottled water, but have stopped as part of an effort to reduce single-use plastics. We've switched to pre-filled metal bottles, however they are quite heavy and not clear. The concern now is that if a bottle is dropped, it could cause damage to floors or nearby collections. Visitors could re-use the bottles for other liquids that might damage collections if spilled, and staff have no way of knowing the difference without pouring it out. There is also some concern about vandalism.
We don't want to have to stop allowing water, because visitors must climb around four flights of stairs, air conditioning is very limited, and the self-guided tour often takes longer than an hour to complete. There are no restrooms or water fountains available inside the house.
I appreciate your comments and suggestions!
------------------------------
Genevieve Bieniosek
she/her
Furniture Conservator
Biltmore Estate, Asheville NC
------------------------------