Accessibility

The American Museum of Natural History is committed to ensuring that its facilities, exhibitions, and services are accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities.  To that end, the Museum offers a variety of specially designed programs and resources for visitors with disabilities and their families.  Please click on the links below for more information about these programs and resources:

The American Museum of Natural History is also committed to making its website accessible to individuals with disabilities and is in the process of reviewing and updating its web resources in accordance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, Level AA.  For more information on the WCAG 2.0 Guidelines, please visit https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20.


Should you have any questions regarding accessibility issues or programs, or if the format of any material on the Museum's website interferes with your ability to access that material, please contact us at accessibility@amnh.org or (212) 769-5250.  To enable us to respond in a manner most helpful to you, please provide information as to the best way to contact you as well as the nature of your accessibility issue or the program you are interested in.  If you have questions about Museum website content, please also provide the format in which you would prefer to receive content if you have not been able to access it, and the web address (URL) of the material with which you are having difficulty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are wheelchairs available for use?

Non-motorized wheelchairs are available for visitors to use at no cost, on a first-come, first-served basis. You can find them in three places: at the Membership Desk directly inside the Rose Center/81st Street entrance; at the main entrance on Central Park West; and in the parking garage. Visitors borrowing a wheelchair must present a photo ID and provide a telephone number.

Where are the accessible entrances?

 The following entrances are accessible by wheelchair and have passenger loading zones and curb ramps:

  • Rose Center for Earth and Space entrance: 81st Street, just west of Central Park West
  • Parking garage entrance: 56 West 81st Street, adjacent to Rose Center entrance
  • 77th Street entrance: 77th Street, between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue.  Please note: this entrance is open only for special programs.

All of the Museum's exhibitions are accessible by wheelchair, and all public floors of the Museum can be reached by elevator. All theaters include wheelchair locations and companion seats. The LeFrak Theater also is equipped with chairs that have swing-out armrests for those wishing to sit in a theater seat. All food service areas are accessible by wheelchair, with no steps, turnstiles, or other potential obstructions.

Where are the accessible restrooms?

The following restroom locations are accessible to those with mobility impairments or in wheelchairs:

  • Lower level, near the subway entrance
  • Lower level, Rose Center for Earth and Space
  • First floor, Milstein Hall of Ocean Life (located on hall's lower level, access via elevator on mezzanine level)
  • First floor, Rose Center for Earth and Space
  • First floor, near the Grand Gallery (family restroom)
  • Second floor, Charles A. Dana Education Wing
  • Fourth floor, Wallach Orientation Center

What programs are offered for people with disabilities? How do I sign up?

The Museum offers the Discovery Squad program for children on the autism spectrum; American Sign Language-interpreted Museum highlight tours; and Science Sense touch tours for people who are blind or partially sighted. 

For more information about these programs, dates, and how to sign up, please click on the links above.

Is captioning available for films in the LeFrak Theater and for the Hayden Planetarium Space Show?

Rear Window captioning (RWC) is available in the LeFrak Theater for most films. Please see the theater attendant for a panel. Transcripts are available online for the Space Show and the Big Bang presentation in the Hayden Planetarium and LeFrak films. For more information, please visit this section of our site. 

For information regarding admission pricing, special exhibitions, parking, and more, please see the Visitor Information section of our site.