HAAM

Accessibility Options

Accessibility Options

Tips for your Museum Visit

The Museum is committed to providing inclusive experiences for all audiences.  We hope your visit, whether this is your first time or if you are a seasoned visitor, is as enjoyable as possible. Here are some general tips to optimize your visit to the Museum:

  • The address of the Museum is 1400 Constitution Avenue NW. The Museum has two entrances, located on Madison Drive and Constitution Avenue NW. Both entrances are accessible, however, the entrance on Madison Drive has a drop off area and is the recommended entrance for any visitors arriving by vehicle.
  • Spring and summer are peak visitation time. Visit in the winter or fall months for less crowds.
  • The History Galleries are comprised of ramps, which are more than a mile in length. For visitors with limited mobility, we offer manual wheelchairs to make navigating the ramps less challenging.
  • The Museum has 85,000 square feet of exhibition space. Be prepared to stand or walk for long periods of time. See our Limited Mobility Visitors section for more information.
 
FAQ

Related Questions

How do I get there?

The easiest way to visit the Museum is to travel by public transportation. The closest Metro stations are Federal Triangle and Smithsonian (Mall exit), and you can view walking directions to the Museum via Google Maps or Citymapper. For more information about traveling by Metro, please visit www.wmata.com. 

Is parking available for cars and buses?

The Smithsonian does not provide parking. There are National Park Service designated accessible parking spaces along Madison Drive adjacent to the Museum. Visitors with disability hang tags or license plates can park at metered spaces controlled by the DC government. Visit the DC government website for more information about their parking procedures and for an interactive map of Red Top Meter parking locations.

The nearest public parking garage is located at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. You may access the parking garage via ramps at 14th Street NW (north and south). Please visit the International Trade Center website for more information.

Where are the Museum entrances located?

The Museum has two entrances, located on Madison Drive and Constitution Avenue NW. Both entrances are accessible, however, the entrance on Madison Drive has a drop off area and is the recommended entrance for any visitors arriving by vehicle. View the building entrances at Google Maps or Citymapper.

Service Animals as defined by the Department of Justice are permitted on the Museum grounds and in the building.

All restrooms have one accessible stall and there are designated Family/Companion Care Restrooms on Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 of the building. View the restroom locations using our Museum Maps. 

The Museum has two entrances, located on Madison Drive and Constitution Avenue NW. Both entrances are accessible, however, the entrance on Madison Drive has a drop off area and is the recommended entrance for any visitors arriving by vehicle. View the building entrances at Google Maps or Citymapper.

The Smithsonian does not provide parking. There are National Park Service designated accessible parking spaces along Madison Drive adjacent to the Museum. Visitors with disability hang tags or license plates can park at metered spaces controlled by the DC government. Visit the DC government website for more information about their parking procedures and for an interactive map of Red Top Meter parking locations.

The nearest public parking garage is located at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. You may access the parking garage via ramps at 14th Street NW (north and south). Please visit the International Trade Center website for more information.

The Museum is accessible for visitors with limited mobility via escalators, elevators and ramps.  Manual wheelchairs, standard and bariatric sized, are located near the Madison Drive entrance and are available to borrow on a first-come, first served basis. There are no fees or requirements to borrow a wheelchair, just ask when you arrive. The Smithsonian cannot recommend specific external vendors but there are several available in the area that can provide manual or motorized wheelchair rentals. 

For visitors with mobility limitations, the suggested route through the History Galleries is to start on the C1 level and end at the C3 level. Visitors may enter through the Galleries’ exit located on the Concourse level, view the exhibits and then use the elevator at the C3 level to return to the Concourse. The route presents a reverse chronological experience but some visitors may find it to be less fatiguing. View the different route options using the Museum Maps, which are also available via our mobile app.

The Oprah Winfrey Theater, used for public programming, has accessible seating and transfer seating.

For more information about wheelchair and scooter rental in the Washington, DC area, please contact Destination DC  at (202) 789-7001.

For visitors who are blind or experience low vision, there are Braille/raised image maps and large print maps located at the Welcome Desk. Visitors may use these maps to assist with wayfinding and orientation while visiting.

The museum is a location for the Aira Access mobile information and verbal description service. Visitors can download the free Aira app on a smartphone, connect to the museum’s free Wi-Fi, and use the app to speak to an Aira agent using minutes provided courtesy of the Smithsonian. Visit Aira Access for more information, or download and read this Aira guide.

Currently, the Museum does not offer tactile tours. However, Visitor Services staff are trained to offer sighted guide and verbal description for visitors. Visitors may request sighted guide or verbal description for up to 45 minutes in the gallery or floor of their choice.

If you are planning a future visit or already have a Timed Entry Pass and would like to arrange sighted guide or verbal description in advance, please contact nmaahcvisitorservices@si.edu.

We provide ASL interpretation for public programs and scheduled docent tours. If you would like to schedule ASL for a public program or scheduled docent tour, please contact us at nmaahcvisitorservices@si.edu at least two weeks in advance of your visit. If you wish to proceed self-guided, all media in the museum is open captioned.

The Museum can be noisy and crowded during peak periods of visitation. If you are sensitive to noise, you may wish to bring noise cancelling headphones with you.

Sensory Maps are available at the Welcome Desk. They showcase each exhibition level and highlight areas where sounds are loud, lights are bright, and where visitors can touch. 

Museum floor plan maps are available in Chinese, French, and Spanish at the Welcome Desk.

The Mobile app is available in English, Spanish, and French. 

Pre-visit Stories​

The museum's Visitor and Guest Services team has developed pre-visit stories for families who have children with cognitive or emotional disabilities.

The pre-visit stories help prepare children for the situations they might encounter when visiting the museum and address what to expect, museum rules, and safety information. 

Download PDF versions of our Pre-visit Stories:

Other Family Needs 

The Museum has a private lactation space available upon request. Please ask at the Welcome Desk when you arrive. The space contains chairs, a table, and multiple outlets.

We are currently replacing the baby changing stations in our restrooms. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Temporary changing stations will be available soon. 

Baby changing stations are currently available in the family restrooms on L2, L3, and L4. 

We appreciate your patience as we work to improve our facilities for all visitors. 

For questions, please contact nmaahcvisitorservices@si.edu.