SOUTH HADLEY, Mass.- People in western Massachusetts will have new exhibits to see as Mount Holyoke College officially reopens the doors to their museums.

The Mount Holyoke College Art Museum reopened to the public earlier this month. Built in 1876, it's one of the oldest museums in the country. It holds a collection of art covering centuries of American, European and ancient Asian history.

Mount Holyoke College's other museum, the Joseph Allen Skinner Museum, will open its doors to the public early next month. The Skinner Museum holds thousands of artifacts from the early 19th and 20th centuries, including fossils, ceramics of early New England and many musical instruments. They were collected by the late Joseph Skinner.

Museum director Tricia Paik said it came as a shock to have to close the museum during the pandemic and now she's excited to welcome people back.

"Our desire to connect with our community is even more fervent and urgent than before," Paik said. "And we welcome all of you to come in to see the museum and leave us questions and we want to hear your thoughts too."

​The Joseph Allen Skinner Museum will reopen to the public on Saturday, October 1. On Thursday, October 13 the museum will host one of their new curators for a meet and greet at their exhibit.