Footwear coverings

Katharine A. Untch <katy [at] argsf__com> writes

>An historic site recently asked me "who really uses those?" when
>referring to footwear coverings ("booties") sometimes used for
>visitors when touring historic buildings. So, I thought we might try
>finding out.  If you know of any sites using these protective foot
>coverings, could you let me know which sites?

Shofosu, the Japanese House and Garden in Philadelphia's Fairmont
Park <URL:http://www.shofuso.com/> requires that visitors replace
their shoes with cardboard slippers (like after a pedicure) to tour
the facility.  The flooring in this house was not intended to be
trod upon by footwear, but the principle would be the same for other
historic houses with delicate floors. Wearing the slippers is a
requirement and everyone must comply or they are denied admittance,
even on very busy visitor days during Japanese festivals.

Kim Andrews
Preservation Services Officer
Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts
264 South 23rd Street
Philadelphia, PA  19103
215-545-0613
Fax: 215-735-9313


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 21:27
                Distributed: Saturday, October 20, 2007
                       Message Id: cdl-21-27-006
                                  ***