When fears of a global coronavirus pandemic ground the world to a halt just over a year ago, nobody could have foreseen just how much daily life for almost everybody on this planet would change. For automotive enthusiasts, 2020 presented challenges including canceled calendar events like the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. On the other hand, cars and coffee meetups offered an opportunity to get out of the house and social distance safely—and of course, the world's highest-end brands like Lamborghini and Bugatti found immense success despite the global economic slowdown. Now, things appear to be slowly returning to normal and even the likes of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles has now announced a planned reopening set for March 25, 2021.

The Petersen Museum’s New Exhibits And New Precautions

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via Petersen Automotive Museum

The Petersen's on-again-off-again path towards reopening has in many ways matched the rest of California's process. Back in October, the museum informed the world of a trio of new exhibits that would signal a return to normal—and yet, almost half a year later, that plan now seems to be coming to life. The exhibits include "Supercars: A Century of Spectacle and Speed," visible above with legends like the Acura NSX, Lamborghini Miura, and Porsche 959 available for gearheads' perusal. But the reopening comes with strict rules in place to prevent the possibility of spreading Covid-19, including social distancing measures, designated paths, and increased sanitizing procedures.

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Off-Roading Outdoors—Or An Off-Roading Exhibit Indoors?

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via Petersen Automotive Museum

Another exhibit entitled "Extreme Conditions" and put on with support from Land Rover (to celebrate the new Discovery) offers a glimpse at historical and modern-day 4x4 and rally racing creations. A third exhibit focuses strictly on Porsche (even though Stuttgart products also appear in the other two) and has been named "Redefining Performance."

RELATED: President Roosevelt’s Armored Lincoln Gets In-Depth Look At The Petersen Automotive Museum

Recognizing First Responders And Healthcare Workers

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via Michael Van Runkle / HotCars

As part of the reopening effort, the Petersen hopes to honor healthcare workers and first responders after the difficulties of the past year. All tickets must be pre-purchased and go live on March 16, though anyone who can prove their role on the front line of this pandemic can look forward to complimentary admission for themselves and up to three family members throughout the rest of 2021.

“We are excited to welcome visitors back to the museum in a safe and responsible manner,” said Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director Terry L. Karges. “We cannot thank the healthcare personnel and first responders enough for everything they have done for our community. We hope this small token of our appreciation signals how grateful we are to them and their families.”

Source: petersen.org.

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