We are committed to ensuring all visitors are welcome and can enjoy the museum. 

Our Building

Exterior Ramp

The Museum has a wheelchair accessible ramp on the Independence Avenue SW. The entrance to the ramp is just west (left when facing the Museum) of the intersection of Independence Avenue SW and 6th Street SW.

Elevators

Two elevators are available inside the Museum, one outside The Wright Brothers & The Invention of the Aerial Age across from the Museum Store, and one outside the Allan and Shelley Holt Innovations Gallery across from Early Flight.

Restrooms

All Museum restrooms are accessible. 

Shopping and Dining

All Museum stores, dining facilities, and water fountains are accessible.

Be aware that we handle and prepare egg, milk, wheat, shellfish, fish, soy, peanut and tree nut products, sesame products and other potential allergens in the food production areas of our facility.

Parking

A limited number of designated accessible parking spaces are located on Jefferson Drive across from the Museum.

Visitors with disability hang tags or license plates can park for free at metered spaces along Independence Avenue, SW. 

Please pay attention to time of day restrictions. 

Our Exhibits

Assistive Listening

Some of our media pieces with sound have induction loops. You can identify them by a blue and white sign located with the particular media piece. 
Select other pieces use ListenTech.

Captions

All multimedia in the Museum appears with captions. 

Sensory-Friendly Visit Times

The Museum offers select times where young people who are neurodivergent can visit during Mornings at the Museum, sensory-friendly programs prior to opening on weekends. 

Upcoming Sensory-Friendly Events

Available Onsite

Pre-Visit Materials

Prepare for your visit with a social narrative, that shares what to expect. 

Read Social Narrative

Sensory Bags

Sensory bags include noise reduction headphones, fidget toys, and other tools to help make the Museum more accessible for neurodiverse visitors. They can be checked out at the Southwest Airlines Welcome Center.

Aira Visual Description App

Through this app, sighted agents provide visual descriptions on demand. Use this app for free when visiting the museum and connected to our Wi-Fi. 

Download App

Wheelchairs

A limited number of standard and bariatric wheelchairs are available for loan at the Security Desk. 

Resources to Request in Advance

Additional resources are available for free, with advanced notice. Please contact us two weeks in advance to request the following:

Sighted Guide Descriptive Experiences

A sighted-guide will offer you a tour of the Museum. Contact us to for more information. 

Tactile Discovery Stations

Discovery Stations are hands on experiences for visitors. You can request a Discovery Station that is designed to be accessible for blind or low-vision visitors with tactile models by contacting us. 

Sign Language Interpretation of Programs

ASL interpretation is already provided for some programs. That will be noted on the event description. 

For interpretation at another program, or in a different signed language (eg. PSE or Signed English), please contact us. 

Email Us to Request One of These Resources

Bring Your Own

Service Animals

Service animals are welcome at the Museum. 

Under the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals are not considered service animals.

Personal Mobility Devices

Visitors are welcome to bring manual or motorized wheelchairs, scooters, and other manual or power-driven mobility devices when visiting the Smithsonian. 

Gasoline-powered devices are not allowed inside Smithsonian buildings.

Questions About Accessibility?

Contact Us

For more questions, please contact the Museum's Visitor Services staff via email or via phone at 202-633-2211.

Smithsonian Office of Visitor Accessibility

More resources are available through the Smithsonian Office of Visitor Accessibility.