Smithsonian Access A Free Guide for Visitors Publication of this guide was made possible by a generous grant from the Smithsonian Women's Committee Welcome to the Smithsonian Institution When you visit any of the Smithsonian's 16 museums or the National Zoo, you are entering the world's largest museum complex. The Smithsonian holds more than 140 million artifacts and specimens in its trust "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge." The Institution is also a center for research and is dedicated to public education, national service and scholarship in the arts, sciences and history. "Smithsonian Access" reflects the status of Smithsonian facilities in the spring of 1994. When we describe something in this guide as "accessible" or "not accessible," we are judging it against the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards and the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines. As this brochure goes to press, the entire Smithsonian is engaged in an intensive study of the accessibility of its buildings, exhibitions, public programs and publications. We are firmly committed to finding solutions to the challenges presented by some of our historic buildings and to removing barriers to our visitors. We hope to make steady progress in improving those areas where our facilities are outdated or inadequate. And we intend to continue to develop public programs and publications for the widest possible audience. We encourage you to call or write to Smithsonian Information (see the last page of this brochure) or the Smithsonian's Accessibility Coordinator for information about our progress in reshaping our old buildings and in expanding our new programs to welcome all visitors to the national museums. General Information Volunteer information specialists are available to answer questions at the information desks in most museums. A general brochure and other materials are available free of charge. An "Official Guide to the Smithsonian" can be purchased in most of the museum shops or by mail from Smithsonian Museum Shops, P.O. Box 1140, Newington, Va. 22122. Visitors may request information seven days a week, except Dec. 25, by calling Smithsonian Information, (202) 357-2700 (voice) or (202) 357-1729 (TTY) between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The TTY will take messages after 4 p.m. For recorded information, call Dial-A-Museum at (202) 357-2020 (English) or (202) 633-9126 (Spanish). Museum hours Unless otherwise noted, the Washington, D.C., museums are open daily, except Dec. 25, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Smithsonian Information Center, located in the Castle, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Extended summer hours are determined annually. Transportation Public parking is very limited around all Smithsonian museums, except for the Anacostia Museum. On-street parking in Washington, D.C., is severely restricted during morning and evening rush hours. Visitors are strongly advised to use public transportation. Most of the museums are served by the Washington Metrorail subway system and Metrobuses. The most convenient subway stop for each museum is given in this brochure, and accessible station entrances are noted. Bus lines serving Smithsonian facilities that are not located near subway stops also are listed. For information about Metrobus service, call Metro information, (202) 637-7000 or (202) 638-3780 (TTY). Designated parking Designated parking for people with disabilities on the streets surrounding Smithsonian museums is controlled by the District of Columbia or the National Park Service. Around the National Mall, the National Park Service has designated 30 free parking spaces for vehicles bearing the international symbol of access or official identification issued by a city or state. See the map at the back of this publication. On Jefferson Drive: A designated area in front of the Freer Gallery of Art has room for up to nine vehicles, depending on their sizes. Five individually marked parking spaces are located between the carousel and the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden. Five individually marked parking spaces are located in front of the National Air and Space Museum. On Madison Drive: There are three individually marked parking spaces for people with disabilities at the east end of the National Museum of Natural History, two individually marked parking spaces in front of the National Museum of Natural History, three individually marked parking spaces at the east end of the National Museum of American History and two individually marked spaces in front of the National Museum of American History. There are also five spaces near the National Gallery of Art, which is not part of the Smithsonian. Emergencies Information about emergency exit routes and procedures is available from security staff. Wheelchairs Wheelchairs for visitor use within the facility are available in each museum and at the National Zoo. Please ask the guard at the entrance for assistance. Visitors may be asked to sign a register and deposit identification. Assistance animals Guide dogs and other certified assistance animals are allowed in all Smithsonian facilities. Please check in at the guard desk as you enter. Public areas Except where noted otherwise, all exhibition spaces and museum shops are accessible to visitors with impaired mobility. However, there are exhibitions that are not fully accessible in such areas as lighting, color schemes, placement of objects and labels or legibility of label text. Some museums are able to provide alternative label text in Braille, on audiocassette or in large print. We have noted these services where they are available. Public programs Free concerts, lectures, film programs and other presentations are held in the museums through the year. Visitors may inquire about access services by contacting the museum or program sponsoring the event. Many docents (museum guides) have been specially trained in planning and giving tours to children and adults with various disabilities. Interpreters Visitors who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may request sign-language, oral or cued-speech interpreters for any Smithsonian program or special event, with at least two weeks' advance notice. Call the number listed in this brochure for the facility you wish to visit. Telephones Most facilities have public telephones at wheelchair-users' height. Some have amplified public telephones. The Smithsonian Information Center, the National Museum of African Art, and the Arts and Industries Building have TTYs for public use. Folklife Festival The Smithsonian's annual Festival of American Folklife is held on the National Mall the last week in June and the first week in July. The Festival celebrates the many different cultural and ethnic traditions that make up our heritage. All events are free. The Mall exit (escalator only) of Metro's Smithsonian Station is located on the Festival grounds. The Independence Avenue exit (elevator and escalator) is one block south of the Mall. All programs are at ground level. Some visitors using wheelchairs find the gravel walkways on the National Mall difficult to use. An audiocassette version of the Festival schedule and program book and a large-print edition of the schedule of events are available from information kiosks and the Volunteer Tent. Braille copies of the schedule and a Braille sample copy of the program book are also available. Sign-language interpreters are regularly scheduled at programs throughout the Festival. Individual sign-language interpreters, sighted guides for visually impaired visitors and volunteers to assist visitors who have limited mobility are available on site each day of the Festival from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Oral interpreters are available with two weeks' advance notice. For more information about assistance at the site, call the Smithsonian Center for Folklife Programs and Cultural Studies at (202) 287-3424 (voice) or (202) 287-3697 (TTY), after May 15. For general Festival information, call Smithsonian Information at (202) 357-2700 (voice) or (202) 357-1729 (TTY), after June 1. The Smithsonian Associates The Smithsonian Associates offers several different membership options. Among possible membership benefits are subscriptions to Smithsonian magazine and to The Smithsonian Associate, a monthly newsletter describing courses and activities offered in the Washington, D.C., area. Smithsonian magazine and The Smithsonian Associate are recorded on audiocassettes every month. Tapes of The Smithsonian Associate may be borrowed from the District of Columbia Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Room 215, 901 G Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001. The library's telephone numbers are (202) 727-2142 (voice) and (202) 727-2145 (TTY). To obtain tapes of Smithsonian magazine, contact the regional libraries for the blind and physically handicapped. In the Washington, D.C., area, the Associates program offers a wide variety of lectures, concerts, film programs, studio-arts workshops, Campus on the Mall courses and other programs for young people. There are fees or admission charges for almost all these programs, which take place in many different locations, primarily within Smithsonian museums. Please call ahead if you have questions about the accessibility features of a program. Visitors may arrange for sign-language, oral or cued-speech interpreters with two weeks' advance notice. For more information, call (202) 357-3030 (voice) or (202) 633-9467 (TTY), Monday through Friday. The Associates also offers domestic and foreign study tours, seminars and research expeditions with interpreter services available upon request. Some tours are designed specifically for disabled people. For more information, call (202) 357-4700 (voice) or (202) 786-2315 (fax). Washington-area residents interested in membership information can call (202) 357-3030 (voice) or (202) 633-9467 (TTY). People outside the Washington area can call (202) 357-2700 (voice) or (202) 357-1729 (TTY), seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Accessibility Coordinator The Accessibility Coordinator's office coordinates the Smithsonian's efforts to make its facilities, programs and activities accessible to disabled people. The Accessibility Coordinator is available to consult with disabled people and advocacy organizations. Questions or concerns about the accessibility of Smithsonian programs and facilities may be directed to: Accessibility Coordinator Office of the Assistant Secretary for the Arts and Humanities A&I 1410 MRC 410 Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C. 20560 Or call (202) 786-2942 (voice) or (202) 786-2414 (TTY), Monday through Friday. In Washington, D.C. Smithsonian Institution Building 1000 Jefferson Drive S.W. To many people, this building, known as the Castle, symbolizes the entire Smithsonian. The Institution's first building, it was completed in 1855. Today, it houses the Smithsonian Information Center. Parking On Jefferson Drive, the National Park Service has designated parking space for people with disabilities in front of the Freer Gallery of Art that will accommodate approximately nine vehicles. There are five individually marked spaces between the Arts and Industries Building and the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden. The city has not designated any parking spaces on Independence Avenue for visitors with disabilities. Entrances The northwest entrance, from the Mall, is ramped and has electronic doors. The south entrance, from the Haupt Garden, is ramped, but there are three steps between the entry and the Smithsonian Information Center. Hours The Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except Dec. 25. General information The Smithsonian Information Center offers a variety of information and orientation services regarding Smithsonian museums, exhibitions, programs, services, events and membership. The Center also provides information about other Washington, D.C., attractions. Two orientation theaters feature a 24-minute video overview of the Smithsonian. Both theaters have spaces for wheelchairs. Neither has an aisle seat without an armrest. Theater II contains an audio loop. Visitors may tune in by activating the telecoils in their hearing aids. The video shown in Theater II is captioned. The script for the video is available for review at the information desk. Interactive touch-screen programs are available in six languages. There are electronic maps, interactive touch-screen programs on popular attractions in the nation's capital and scale models of Washington's core and its famous monuments. There is a standing tactile model of the Mall area, labeled in Braille. Restrooms and more The restrooms serving the Smithsonian Information Center are fully accessible. All public telephones are at wheelchair users' height. There is a public TTY near the Mall entrance. All water fountains are accessible. Tours and publications For information about special tours or regularly scheduled walk-in tours of the Castle in English and Spanish, call (202) 357-2700 (voice) or (202) 357-1729 (TTY). Two weeks' advance notice is required when requesting sign-language, oral or cued-speech interpreters for these tours. A variety of free preprinted materials are available, including the Smithsonian "Welcome" brochure. The "Welcome" brochure is available in six languages: Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish. The English version is available in large print, on audiocassette and in Braille. This brochure, "Smithsonian Access," is also available in large print, on audiocassette and in Braille. A portable raised-line map of the Mall area is available for use at all information desks. Metro Smithsonian Station. Blue and Orange Lines. Visitors using the escalators to exit the station should take the Mall exit. The elevator is located at the station's Independence Avenue exit, at 12th Street S.W., less than two blocks west of the Castle, along ramped sidewalks. Enid A. Haupt Garden 1000 Independence Avenue S.W. This 4-acre garden in the Castle's "back yard" rests atop the Smithsonian's underground museum, research and education complex. The garden is open at 7 a.m. Closing hours depend upon the time of year. Named for its donor, Enid Annenberg Haupt, the parklike area features an ornamental Victorian garden, an array of saucer magnolias, 19th-century garden furniture, and a wide variety of seasonal plants and flowers. Parking On Jefferson Drive, the National Park Service has designated parking space for people with disabilities in front of the Freer Gallery of Art that will accommodate approximately nine vehicles. There are five individually marked spaces between the Arts and Industries Building and the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden. The District of Columbia has not designated any parking spaces on Independence Avenue for people with disabilities. There is a passenger loading zone near the Independence Avenue gate to the Enid A. Haupt Garden. Tours To arrange a special garden and architectural tour, call (202) 357-1926 (voice) or (202) 357-1729 (TTY). Two weeks' advance notice is required for interpreters. Entrances There are five gateways to the Haupt Garden, three on the south side, along Independence Avenue, and two on the north side, from Jefferson Drive. All entrances are level. The garden paths are paved with brick. Within the garden, there is a ramp to the south door of the Castle, with three steps between the entry and the Smithsonian Information Center; there are level entrances to the Arts and Industries Building, the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the National Museum of African Art. Metro Smithsonian Station. Blue and Orange Lines. Visitors using the escalators to exit the station should take the Mall exit. The elevator is located at the station's Independence Avenue exit, at 12th Street S.W., less than two blocks away from the garden, along ramped sidewalks. Freer Gallery of Art Jefferson Drive at 12th Street S.W. The Freer is a museum of Asian art, with objects dating from Neolithic times to the early 20th century. The museum also houses 19th- and early 20th-century American art, including a major collection of works by James McNeill Whistler. Parking The National Park Service has designated parking space for people with disabilities on Jefferson Drive that will accommodate approximately nine vehicles in front of the Freer Gallery. The District of Columbia has not designated any parking spaces on Independence Avenue for people with disabilities. There are passenger loading areas on Jefferson Drive and Independence Avenue. Entrances The gallery's Mall entrance, on Jefferson Drive, is reached by a flight of 12 steps. A flight of 13 steps leads from the lobby to the exhibition level. The Independence Avenue entrance is reached by nine steps. A flight of 24 steps leads from the lobby to the exhibition level. There is a street-level entrance on Independence Avenue at 12th Street. The international access symbol button operates the doors. All floors of the museum, except the lobby on the Mall side, and all exhibition areas are accessible by elevator. A fully accessible exhibition gallery connects the building to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, also a Smithsonian museum of Asian art. General information The lobby on the Mall side of the building and the information desk located there are separated from the exhibition area by a flight of 13 steps. The printed information provided at the information desk is also available at the Independence Avenue entrance. Large-type labels are provided in many exhibitions. At the time this brochure went to press, there were no video presentations at the gallery; any future productions will be captioned. An infrared listening system is available in the gallery's Meyer Auditorium. Headsets are available on request. Restrooms and more All Freer Gallery restrooms, banks of public telephones and water fountains are accessible. Tours and publications All tours are reserved at least four weeks in advance. For information and a tour packet with a reservation form, call (202) 357-4880, ext. 245 (voice) or (202) 786-2374 (TTY), or write to: Tours Arthur M. Sackler Gallery/Freer Gallery of Art MRC 707 Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C. 20560 Most docent-led tours include hands-on objects. Visitors may arrange for sign-language, oral or cued-speech interpreters by calling (202) 786-2374 (TTY) or (202) 357-4880, ext. 248 (voice). Two weeks' advance notice is required. Accessibility features are marked on the gallery's floor plan. A portable raised-line map of the Mall area is available for use at all information desks. The general information brochure about the Freer is set in large type. It is available at the information desk or from the Tours Office. Metro Smithsonian Station. Blue and Orange Lines. Visitors using the escalators to exit the station should take the Mall exit. The elevator is located at the station's Independence Avenue exit, at 12th Street S.W, one block west of the Independence Avenue entrance to the Freer, along ramped sidewalks. S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Drive S.W. The S. Dillon Ripley Center, located on the third level of the underground museum, research and education complex beneath the Enid A. Haupt Garden, contains classrooms, an auditorium, offices and exhibition space, including the International Gallery. Parking The National Park Service has designated space for people with disabilities on Jefferson Drive, in front of the Freer Gallery of Art, that will hold approximately nine vehicles. There is a passenger loading area on Jefferson Drive. Entrance Visitors enter the Ripley Center at sidewalk level through a small, copper-domed circular kiosk on Jefferson Drive, between the Freer Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian Castle, at the northeast entrance to the Enid A. Haupt Garden. There are no power doors at the entrance. In the kiosk, visitors may take the fully accessible elevator or a combination of stairs and escalator down to the Ripley Center. General information For information on the International Gallery's current exhibition, contact Smithsonian Information, (202) 357-2700 (voice) or (202) 357-1729 (TTY), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week. For information on programs presented in the Ripley Center Auditorium or in Education Center classrooms, contact the organization sponsoring the event. There is loop amplification in the Ripley Center Lecture Hall. Visitors may tune in by activating the telecoils in their hearing aids. Restrooms and more The Center's restrooms are located at the west end of the concourse, near the escalator. They are accessible. Water fountains are accessible. Public telephones at wheelchair users' height are available off the concourse. Metro Smithsonian Station. Blue and Orange Lines. Visitors using the escalators to exit the station should take the Mall exit. The elevator is located at the station's Independence Avenue exit, at 12th Street S.W., less than two blocks away from the kiosk. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery 1050 Independence Avenue S.W. Changing exhibitions of Asian art drawn from major collections in the United States and abroad highlight the varied artistic traditions of Asia from ancient times to the present. The museum's permanent collection includes art from China, South and Southeast Asia, ancient and Islamic Iran, and Japan. The museum was founded in honor of a gift from Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), a medical researcher, publisher and art collector. Parking The National Park Service has designated parking space for people with disabilities on Jefferson Drive, in front of the Freer Gallery of Art, that will accommodate approximately nine vehicles. The city has not designated any parking spaces on Independence Avenue for people with disabilities. Entrance The museum's entrance is located near the Independence Avenue gate to the Enid A. Haupt Garden. Visitors entering the garden from Jefferson Drive follow level brick paths to the museum entrance. The museum's entrance is composed of two doors; they are not automatic. The first door is heavy; it is pulled. The second door, at a right angle to the first door, is light. It is either pulled or pushed. A fully accessible exhibition gallery connects the building to the Freer Gallery of Art. General information Large-type labels are provided in many exhibitions. Video presentations are captioned. Tours and publications All tours are reserved at least four weeks in advance. For information and a tour packet with a reservation form, call (202) 357-4880, ext. 245 (voice) or (202) 786-2374 (TTY), or write to: Tours Arthur M. Sackler Gallery/Freer Gallery of Art MRC 707 Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C. 20560 Most docent-led tours include hands-on objects. Visitors may arrange for sign-language, oral or cued-speech interpreters by calling (202) 786-2374 (TTY) or (202) 357-4880, ext. 248 (voice).Two weeks' advance notice is required. Accessibility features are marked on the gallery's floor plan. A portable raised-line map of the Mall area is available for use at all information desks. A large-print, simplified-language brochure introducing the Sackler may be obtained at the information desk or by writing to: Office of Public Affairs Arthur M. Sackler Gallery/Freer Gallery of Art MRC 707 Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C. 20560 Restrooms and more All public restrooms, banks of telephones and water fountains at the Sackler Gallery are accessible. Metro Smithsonian Station. Blue and Orange Lines. Visitors using the escalators to exit the station should take the Mall exit. The elevator is located at the station's Independence Avenue exit, at 12th Street S.W. The elevator is less than two blocks west of the Independence Avenue entrance to the Haupt Garden, along ramped sidewalks. National Museum of African Art 950 Independence Avenue S.W. This is the only national art museum in the United States devoted solely to the collection, exhibition and study of African art. Parking On Jefferson Drive, the National Park Service has designated parking space for people with disabilities in front of the Freer Gallery of Art to accommodate approximately nine vehicles. There are five individually marked spaces between the Arts and Industries Building and the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden. The District of Columbia has not designated any parking spaces on Independence Avenue for people with disabilities. There is a passenger loading zone near the Independence Avenue gate to the Enid A. Haupt Garden. Entrance The museum's entrance is located near the Independence Avenue gate to the Enid A. Haupt Garden. Visitors entering the garden from Jefferson Drive follow level brick paths to the museum entrance. The museum's entrance is composed of two doors; they are not automatic. The first door is pulled. The second door, at a right angle to the first door, is either pulled or pushed. General information Public elevators do not have Braille labels. All video presentations are captioned. The information desk is accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. An FM Assistive Listening System is available for tours, from docents (museum guides) or volunteers at the information desk, and at lectures, films, public programs or art workshops from a member of the Education Department. Restrooms and more All of the museum's public restrooms are accessible. There are public telephones at wheelchair users' height on the first level, to the left of the elevators, and on the second level, to the right of the elevators. There is a public TTY on the first level, near the elevator. All banks of water fountains are accessible. Tours and publications For information about scheduled tours and programs, call the Department of Education, (202) 357-4600, ext. 221 (voice) or (202) 357-4814 (TTY). The Education Department provides objects for tactile examination during designated hands-on tours. Special tours are available upon request. A portable raised-line map of the Mall area is available for use at all information desks. Visitors may arrange for special tours by written request. Request forms must be received by the 15th of the month preceding the intended visit. Programs are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. To receive an application form, call the numbers above or write to: Education Department National Museum of African Art MRC 708 Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C. 20560 Visitors may arrange for sign-language, oral or cued-speech interpreters by calling (202) 357-4814 (TTY) or (202) 357-4600, ext. 223 (voice), two weeks in advance. Open-captioned videotapes are available for loan upon written request to the Education Department. Metro Smithsonian Station. Blue and Orange Lines. The elevator and escalator at the station's Independence Avenue exit are less than two blocks west of the Independence Avenue entrance to the Haupt Garden, along ramped sidewalks. Arts and Industries Building 900 Jefferson Drive S.W. This is the second-oldest Smithsonian building on the Mall. It houses "1876: A Centennial Exhibition," re-creating exhibits from the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, held in Philadelphia. The Discovery Theater offers programs for children. Call (202) 357-1500 (voice and TTY) for theater information. Parking On Jefferson Drive, the National Park Service has designated parking space for people with disabilities in front of the Freer Gallery of Art that will accommodate approximately nine vehicles. The Park Service has created five individually marked spaces between the Arts and Industries Building and the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden. The District of Columbia has not designated any parking spaces on Independence Avenue for people with disabilities. There is a passenger loading zone near the main Independence Avenue gate to the Enid A. Haupt Garden. General information There are ramps and power-assisted doors at the north entrance, on Jefferson Drive, and at the west entrance from the Enid A. Haupt Garden. There is no entrance to the building from Independence Avenue. The east entrance, toward the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden, is for staff only. All exhibitions are at ground level. A portable raised-line map of the Mall area is available for use at all information desks. Restrooms and more Accessible restrooms are located on the first floor in the southeast pavilion. There is an accessible water fountain near the restrooms.There is a public TTY, and one public telephone has amplification. Discovery Theater The Smithsonian Associates' Discovery Theater, in the west hall, offers a variety of performance programs for children from pre-kindergarten to ninth grade. The theater's main season runs from October to mid-June; there is a short summer season. Educational materials are offered free to groups. The theater is accessible to wheelchair users. There is no audio amplification system. Audio description is provided on advance request. Although much of the material presented in the theater is improvisational, printed scripts may be available for some programs. Sign-language, oral and cued-speech interpreters are available with two weeks' advance notice. For tickets and more information, call the theater Box Office, (202) 357-1500 (voice and TTY). Metro Smithsonian Station. Blue and Orange Lines. Escalator at Mall exit; escalator and elevator at Independence Avenue exit. Mary Livingston Ripley Garden The serpentine walkway of the garden runs from Independence Avenue to Jefferson Drive, between the Arts and Industries Building and the Hirshhorn Museum. Named in honor of Mary Livingston Ripley, a founder of the Smithsonian Women's Committee, the seasonal garden contains trees and a variety of colorful, fragrant and unusual plants like those that can be used in a home garden. Most plants are labeled. A large-print brochure is being developed. There is no public entry to the Arts and Industries Building from the Ripley Garden. A ramp to the Hirshhorn Museum plaza is at the Jefferson Drive entrance to the Ripley Garden. The winding brick path is edged with curving brick retaining walls for the garden beds. There is a significant cross-slope in certain places. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Independence Avenue at Seventh Street S.W. This museum focuses on the art of our time. Important examples of modern art are displayed in the museum, the adjoining plaza and a sunken sculpture garden. Hours The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Sculpture Garden is open from 7:30 a.m. until dusk. Parking The National Park Service has designated five parking spaces for people with disabilities along Jefferson Drive, between the Arts and Industries Building and the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden. The city has not designated any parking spaces on Independence Avenue for people with disabilities. Entrances The museum may be entered on the level from Independence Avenue (south side) or by ramp or a short flight of steps from Jefferson Drive (north side). The museum's Independence Avenue entrance and exit have revolving doors. There are swinging doors on the north side of the museum's lobby. On Jefferson Drive, there is a ramped entrance to the Hirshhorn's plaza at the northwest corner of the museum's perimeter wall, at the north entrance of the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden. There are swinging doors on the north side of the museum's lobby. The Sculpture Garden may be entered by flights of stairs from Jefferson Drive or by ramp from the National Mall. General information Wheelchairs for visitors' use in the museum are available by request at the coat-check room, located on the lower level, or by calling the Security Office ahead of time at (202) 357-3277 to reserve one. The information desk is accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. The Hirshhorn's Ring Auditorium lacks designated spaces for wheelchair users, but welcomes them to enjoy programs from a level area at the back of the auditorium. The Ring Auditorium and the orientation gallery are equipped with an audio loop. Visitors may tune in by activating the telecoils in their hearing aids. Museum elevators are too small to allow a wheelchair user to make a three-point turn to reach the call buttons. On weekdays, elevators are operated by attendants. Restrooms and more All public restrooms, banks of public telephones and banks of water fountains in the museum are accessible. Tours and publications For information about regular programs; to arrange special tours; or to arrange for sign-language, oral or cued-speech interpreters, call the Education Department at (202) 357-3235 (voice or TTY). Two weeks' advance notice is required for interpreters. A portable raised-line map of the Mall area is available for use at all information desks. Metro L'Enfant Plaza Station. Blue, Orange, Yellow or Green Lines, Maryland Avenue exit. The museum is one block north of the elevator and escalator at this exit. National Air and Space Museum Independence Avenue and Seventh Street S.W. This museum houses dozens of airplanes and spacecraft, missiles and rockets, and other flight-related artifacts, including the Wright Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis, Skylab and the Apollo 11 Command Module. Special films are shown on a five-story-high IMAX movie screen in the Langley Theater, and there are daily presentations in the Einstein Planetarium. Parking The National Park Service has designated five parking spaces for people with disabilities on Jefferson Drive in front of the museum. The city has not designated any parking spaces on Independence Avenue for people with disabilities. Entrances The museum may be entered from either Independence Avenue or Jefferson Drive. Ramps lead from the sidewalks to the building's terrace. On Independence Avenue, there is a very gently sloping ramp at the west end of the building and a longer, steeper one at the east end. On Jefferson Drive, there is one ramp, at the west end of the building. General information The information desk is accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. The Skylab exhibit and the DC-7 plane are reached by climbing flights of stairs. The balcony in the World War II gallery is inaccessible to visitors using wheelchairs. The Einstein Planetarium and Langley Theater are equipped with infrared headset systems that provide assistive audio and visual description. Headsets are available in the Langley Theater lobby and inside the Planetarium. Printed scripts of IMAX films shown in the Langley Theater are available in the theater lobby. Interactive information kiosks provide captioned information about museum programs, tours, films, planetarium shows and collections. Two of the kiosks are accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. Exhibition videos are either captioned or have descriptive labels. Food services Food services in the museum include a restaurant, called The Wright Place, and a cafeteria, called the Flight Line. The restaurant is on a balcony overlooking the cafeteria. There is a self-service elevator to the restaurant. Restrooms and more The restrooms serving the cafeteria are down a flight of stairs. There is an accessible restroom for women just outside the entrance to the cafeteria. There are accessible restrooms in the exhibition areas on both floors. There are public telephones at wheelchair users' height at the Independence Avenue entrance. All banks of water fountains are accessible. Tours and publications "Looking at Shapes and Colors," an introductory tour for mentally disabled student visitors, includes a slide presentation, a tour and an opportunity to handle aerospace objects. The one-hour tour is available on request. Reservations are required three to eight weeks in advance. Hands-on tours for visitors with impaired vision can be arranged. Call (202) 357-1400 (voice) or (202) 357-1505 (TTY). The Recorded Tours desk provides taped tours of the museum. A portable tape player with amplified sound and recorded tours of three galleries is available on loan, free of charge for visually impaired visitors. There are no Braille texts available. A portable raised-line map of the Mall area is available for use at all information desks. Visitors may arrange for sign-language, oral or cued-speech interpreters by calling the museum's Education Services Department, (202) 357-1505 (TTY) or (202) 357-1400 (voice). Two weeks' advance notice is required for sign interpretation. Reservations are taken three to eight weeks in advance. Metro L'Enfant Plaza Station. Blue, Orange, Yellow or Green Lines, Maryland Avenue exit. There is an elevator at this exit. The museum is one block north of the station. National Museum of Natural History 10th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W. With more than 120 million objects in its research collections, the museum is a fascinating resource on people and their natural surroundings. Visitors can learn about humanity's earliest history and the development of world cultures. Thousands of specimens of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects, sea life, fossils, gems, minerals, rocks, ores and meteorites are on view. Among the exhibits are halls devoted to dinosaurs and other fossil plants and animals, a "Living Marine Ecosystem," the O. Orkin Insect Zoo and an exhibition exploring the "Origins of Western Culture." Parking On Madison Drive, the National Park Service has designated three parking spaces for people with disabilities at the east end of the museum and two parking spaces in front of the museum. However, the Mall entrance, from Madison Drive, is not accessible. Visitors using wheelchairs must go around the building to the Constitution Avenue (north) entrance. On-street metered parking, restricted during rush hours, is available on Constitution Avenue. The city has not designated any parking spaces on Constitution Avenue for people with disabilities. Entrances There are ramps, electrically operated doors and a passenger drop-off area at the museum's Constitution Avenue entrance. The entrance on the Mall side of the building is reached by two very long, steep flights of steps. The doors to the Mall entrance are very heavy. General information The museum has six elevators. One is operated by an attendant. Four of the others have been modified to meet accessibility standards. Hands-on museum experiences are provided for all visitors to the Discovery Room and the Insect Zoo. There are Braille labels in the Discovery Room. Visitors age 12 and over may examine specimens in the Naturalist Center. Hours for each of these areas vary. Ask at the information desks in the Constitution Avenue lobby on the ground floor or in the rotunda on the first floor. None of the museum's information desks are accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. Baird Auditorium is not accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. The auditorium contains loop amplification. Visitors may tune in by activating the telecoils in their hearing aids. All interactives and manipulatives are accessible. Selected tactile objects are on display. Ask at the information desk for locations. All video presentations are captioned or have scripts. Food services A public cafeteria, featuring a self-service food carousel, is located on the first floor. People in wheelchairs may require assistance from the cashier in reaching some items. The Court, a buffet-style restaurant, is located on the ground floor. It is reached by a flight of six steps or an elevator to the left of the steps. The serving counter is not accessible to people using wheelchairs. Visitors may ask the manager or wait staff for assistance. Restrooms and more The public restrooms in the east and west wings of the first floor and in the west wing on the second floor are fully accessible. All banks of public telephones contain at least one at wheelchair-users' height. There are no accessible water fountains in the museum. Tours and publications Audio highlight tours of the building are available in English and Spanish. Audio tours of special exhibitions are also available. Visitors may find out about scheduled tours and programs or arrange special tours by writing to: Office of Education National Museum of Natural History MNH 212 MRC 158 Washington, D.C. 20560 Or call (202) 357-2747 (voice) or (202) 633-9287 (TTY). Requests for special tours should be made four weeks in advance. Requests for sign-language, oral or cued-speech interpreters should be made two weeks in advance. Accessibility features are marked on the museum's floor plan. A "Touch and Hear" guide for visitors with impaired vision and a large-print map with directions to touchable exhibits are available on request at the information desk. A portable raised-line map of the Mall area is available for use at all information desks. A large-type version of the museum's publication, Quest, including a calendar of events, is available by calling (202) 357-4014 (voice) or (202) 633-9287 (TTY). Metro Federal Triangle Station. Blue and Orange Lines. Exit and elevator at 12th Street are one block north of Constitution Avenue and one long block west of 10th Street. National Museum of American History 14th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W. Objects on display reflect the nation's cultural, scientific and technological heritage. Major permanent exhibitions focus on everyday life in America after the Revolutionary War, the American Industrial Revolution, the many roles played by first ladies, the migration of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North, the relationships between Hispanics and Native Americans in the Southwest, and the experiences of Japanese Americans during World War II. Parking On Madison Drive, the National Park Service has designated three parking spaces for people with disabilities at the east end of the museum near the ramp to the plaza and two spaces in front of the museum. Entrances On Madison Drive, there is a passenger loading zone in front of the entrance. A ramp near the east end of the building leads to the museum terrace. There are automatic doors at the entrance. On Constitution Avenue, there is a semicircular drive with a passenger loading area. There are automatic doors at the entrance. General information Information desks accessible to visitors using wheelchairs are located at each of the museum's entrances. A wheelchair lift requiring assistance from a security guard provides access to a portion of the Gunboat Philadelphia exhibit (third floor, east wing). A wheelchair lift requiring assistance from a security guard provides access to the Railroad Hall (first floor, east wing). A wheelchair lift serves the main Museum Shop and Bookstore. Instructions on how to use the lift are posted. A phone next to the lift may be used by visitors to request assistance. All other public spaces are independently accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. All audio and video presentations are either captioned or otherwise accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors. No presentations currently use audio description. Objects for tactile examination are available in the Demonstration Center, located next to the Gunboat Philadelphia (third floor, east wing) and on three Interpretive Carts that roam the exhibit halls. Many areas of the museum have low lighting due to conservation requirements. In the museum's Carmichael Auditorium, space is provided for wheelchair users behind the last row of seats. There are no aisle seats with removable armrests. A loop amplification system is activated for every event. Visitors may tune in by activating the telecoils in their hearing aids. Food services There is a self-service carousel cafeteria in the museum's basement. The Ice Cream Parlor restaurant on the first floor serves light meals. The Ice Cream Parlor is accessible to wheelchair users. The carousel cafeteria is accessible to wheelchair users. The food carousel and check-out counters are 34 inches high. The floor manager will provide assistance in reaching items, if required. Restrooms and more Not all restrooms in the museum are accessible. Accessible restrooms are located on the lower level, adjacent to the cafeteria; on the first floor, in the Palm Court next to the Ice Cream Parlor; on the second floor, next to the Star-Spangled Banner; on the third floor, adjacent to the textiles exhibit. The bank of telephones at the Mall entrance contains accessible equipment. One telephone at the Constitution Avenue entrance is accessible to wheelchair users, but it is not equipped with an amplification system. All banks of water fountains are accessible. Tours and publications A monthly "highlights" tour in sign language is led by a docent (museum guide) who is deaf; an interpreter translates for visitors who do not understand sign language. For information about regularly scheduled tours; to arrange special tours (three days' notice required); or to arrange for sign-language, oral or cued-speech interpreters (two weeks' notice required), contact the tour scheduler in the Division of Education, (202) 357-1481 (voice) or (202) 357-1563 (TTY). Accessibility features are marked on the museum's floor plan. A portable raised-line map of the Mall area is available for use at all information desk. There is a large-print brochure for the exhibition "Field to Factory." Metro Smithsonian Station. Blue and Orange Lines. Mall exit (escalator only) is less than one block south of the museum, along a gravel path. Federal Triangle Station. Blue and Orange Lines. Exit and elevator at 12th Street are one block north of the museum's Constitution Avenue entrance, along ramped sidewalks. National Postal Museum 2 Massachusetts Avenue N.E. The Smithsonian's newest museum houses the nation's postal-history and philatelic collection, the largest of its kind in the world. The museum is devoted to the history of America's mail service. In addition to displays of the museum's priceless stamp collection, there are exhibits on mail service in Colonial times and during the Civil War, the Pony Express, the development of modern mail service and the art of letters. The District of Columbia has not designated parking for people with disabilities near the museum. There is a very large paid parking garage at Union Station that does have designated parking. The information desk is accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. Accessibility features are marked on the museum's floor plan and brochure. A portable raised-line map of the Mall area is available for use at all information desks. All public areas, exhibitions and facilities are accessible. No listening assistive systems are available. All audio-visual programs are captioned. For information about tours, call (202) 357-2991. Call at least two weeks in advance to arrange for sign-language, oral or cued-speech interpreters for tours or public programs. Metro Union Station. Red Line. West exit to First Street, across the street from the museum. National Portrait Gallery Eighth and F Streets N.W. The museum traces U.S. history through portraits of men and women who contributed to the political, military, scientific and cultural development of the nation. The gallery shares the historic Old Patent Office Building with the National Museum of American Art. Parking The District of Columbia has not designated any parking spaces for visitors with disabilities on streets near the museum. Entrance There is no accessible entrance to the building. The main entrance has 19 steps and large, heavy doors. However, a stepless entrance is available through the staff garage using the sloped driveway at the corner of Ninth and G Streets N.W. Proceed down the driveway to the first garage door on your right. (In inclement weather, the garage door may be closed; please knock hard to alert the guard.) The guard at the garage entrance will direct visitors. The route to the staff elevator is through the garage. The staff elevator can be used to enter each of the three floors of the museum. There is an elevator from the public area of the third floor to the mezzanine. The only public parking available in the garage consists of two designated parking spaces for visitors with disabilities. The guard will direct visitors to those spaces. Once in the building, visitors can move freely between exhibition areas in the National Portrait Gallery and the National Museum of American Art. General information All information desks are accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. The auditorium and public-programming space is accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. There are no assistive listening systems available. Food service Patent Pending, a self-service cafeteria, serves the National Museum of American Art and the National Portrait Gallery. The cafeteria counter is high, and visitors are encouraged to ask cafeteria staff for assistance. Seating in the dining room is accessible. Restrooms and more No public restrooms in the National Portrait Gallery are accessible. (There are accessible public restrooms in the National Museum of American Art.) The public telephone is accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. It does not have a volume control. All banks of water fountains are accessible. Tours and publications Visitors may contact the Office of Education to obtain information about scheduled tours; to arrange for special tours; to arrange for sign-language, oral or cued-speech interpreters. Two weeks' advance notice is required for interpreters. Call (202) 357-2920 (voice). A portable raised-line map of the Mall area is available for use at all information desks. Docents (museum guides) with training in planning and giving tours to children and adults with various disabilities are available to give tours upon request at the information desk, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. To schedule a tour with a docent, visitors should call (202) 357-2920. Two weeks' advance notice is required. Metro Gallery Place Station. Red, Yellow and Green Lines. Escalator at the Ninth Street exit comes up at the northwest corner of the building. Elevator at Seventh and G Streets N.W. is across Seventh Street and a long block away from the garage entrance. National Museum of American Art Eighth and G Streets N.W. This museum's collection consists of more than 37,500 paintings, sculptures, graphics, folk art and photographs by American artists of all periods. Exhibition highlights include 19th-century landscapes, paintings of American Indian life by George Catlin and many works by African American artists. The museum shares the Old Patent Office Building with the National Portrait Gallery. Parking The District of Columbia has not designated any parking spaces for disabled visitors near the museum. There are two designated parking spaces for people with disabilities in the museum's garage. Space may be arranged in advance by calling the museum's accessibility liaison at (202) 357-3095 (voice) or (202) 357-4522 (TTY). Entrances The main entrance to the museum is not accessible; there are 13 steps and two sets of very heavy doors. A steeply sloped driveway leading down to the building's underground loading dock is located at the corner of Ninth and G Streets. There is a single step from the sidewalk. The route from the loading dock to the freight elevator is accessible; the freight elevator can be used to enter each of the museum's three floors. Visitors using this route will be accompanied by a staff member. After checking with the security officer, visitors may drive vehicles into the museum's loading dock to unload passengers. Call (202) 357-3095 (voice) or (202) 357-4522 (TTY). Once in the building, visitors can move freely between exhibition areas in this museum and the National Portrait Gallery. General information All information desks are accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. Brochures about collections are available. A notebook containing a large-type version of the label text for special exhibitions may be borrowed by visitors for use in the museum. Public elevators lack Braille labeling, and the emergency phone cannot be easily reached by anyone in a wheelchair. Exhibition labeling is accessible. Audio descriptions of exhibitions are available, and label text will be provided in audio with five business days' advance request. Call (202) 357-3095 (voice) or (202) 357-4522 (TTY). Public programs are presented in small spaces furnished with movable chairs. There are no assistive listening systems available. Food services Patent Pending, a self-service cafeteria, serves the National Museum of American Art and the National Portrait Gallery. The cafeteria counter is high and deep. Visitors are encouraged to ask cafeteria staff for assistance. Seating in the dining room is accessible. Restrooms and more Accessible restrooms are located on the second floor. Not all public restrooms are accessible. There are no accessible public telephones in the museum. (Visitors using wheelchairs may wish to use the telephone in the National Portrait Gallery.) There are accessible water fountains on the first floor. Tours and publications Visitors may call (202) 357-3111 to find out about existing programs or to arrange special tours. Two weeks' advance notice is preferred. Visitors may arrange for sign-language, oral or cued-speech interpreters by calling the Coordinator for Special Audience Programs, (202) 357-4522 (TTY) or (202) 357-3095 (voice). There are no amplified audio programs available. Accessibility features are described in the museum's brochure. A portable raised-line map of the Mall area is available for use at all information desks. Special exhibition wall labels are prepared in large print and placed in notebooks that can be borrowed by visitors for use in the museum. There are no materials available in Braille or in simplified language. Special exhibition catalogs published by the museum are available on audiocassette in the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Martin Luther King Branch of the D.C. Public Library. (The Martin Luther King Branch is across the intersection of Ninth and G Streets from the museum.) Metro Gallery Place Station. Red, Yellow and Green Lines. Escalator at the Ninth Street exit comes up at the northwest corner of the building. Elevator at Seventh and G Streets N.W. is across Seventh Street and a long block away from the garage entrance. Renwick Gallery 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. The gallery is a branch of the National Museum of American Art. It features changing craft exhibitions, as well as selections from the permanent collection of 20th-century American crafts. The main rooms of this historic building have been restored and refurnished in the style of the late 19th century. Parking The city has not designated any parking spaces in the area for people with disabilities. There are a number of commercial parking lots nearby. Entrance There is a short flight of steps leading to the museum's front door. A ramp from the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street goes to the basement of the museum, where visitors may use the elevator serving all floors of the museum. This ramp is slightly steeper than stipulated by accessibility standards. The security officer at the basement door will see visitors coming; if it is necessary to gain his or her attention, visitors may knock or ring the doorbell on the left. General information The visitor information desk is accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. Inside the gallery, a long and steep staircase leads to the second floor. An elevator serves all floors of the museum. Elevator controls cannot be reached from a wheelchair. Staff, docents (museum guides) or guards will provide assistance. The museum shop entrance is accessible. Merchandise tables are sometimes placed quite close together. Restrooms and more There is an accessible restroom on the first floor. There are no accessible public telephones. Visitors may use the desk phone at the entrance. There are no accessible drinking fountains. Tours and publications A portable raised-line map of the Mall area is available at the information desk. Prearranged introductory and specialized tours for visitors with various disabilities are given by docents (museum guides) Monday through Thursday at 10 and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Call (202) 357-2531 (voice) or (202) 357-4522 (TTY) three weeks in advance. The TTY will take messages. Visitors also may write to: Tour Scheduler Renwick Gallery MRC 510 Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C. 20560 Metro Farragut West Station. Blue and Orange Lines. Escalator at the 17th Street exit is two blocks north of the museum. Elevator at 18th and I Streets N.W. is two blocks north and one block west of the museum. National Zoological Park 3000 block of Connecticut Avenue N.W. Nearly 3,000 animals of 500 different species live at the Zoo. Many of the creatures are part of an international effort to preserve endangered species. Highlights include the "Amazonia" exhibit. Zoo hours Zoo buildings are open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except where otherwise posted. Zoo grounds are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 15-Oct. 14 and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 15-April 14. Parking The Zoo's main entrance is in the 3000 block of Connecticut Avenue, on the west side of the Zoo. There are also entrances on the east side, off Beach Drive (Rock Creek Parkway) and at the junction of Harvard Street and Adams Mill Road. There are 18 designated parking spaces for visitors with disabilities in two of the Zoo's paid parking lots, Lot B and Lot D. Lot B is located in the middle of the Zoo. All paths slope uphill from Lot D, which is at the east end of the Zoo. General information All public buildings at the Zoo have at least one accessible entrance. A limited number of wheelchairs are available for temporary use by visitors within the Zoo from the information stations at the Education Building or Lion/Tiger Building. Loans are first come, first served. A deposit is required. For information, call (202) 673-4717. Like all Smithsonian facilities, the Zoo allows assistance animals. However, such animals must be removed from any area if they disturb Zoo animals. The Zoo occupies a hillside rising 180 feet above Rock Creek. More than three miles of paths slope downhill from the Connecticut Avenue entrance. Some paths are quite steep and can be slippery when wet. Steep-grade symbols mark difficult parts of the pathways. Olmsted Walk, the main path, goes past all the animal houses except the Bird House and "Amazonia." It is gently sloping in most places. The Valley Trail goes through the steepest part of the Zoo. Wheelchair users should be especially cautious. There are no assistive listening devices available. The information desk at the Education Building is not accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. Food services The Mane Restaurant, which serves fast food and snacks year-round, is accessible. Carts and seasonal buildings provide additional food service, depending on the time of year. Of these seasonal buildings, the Panda Cafe and the Pop Stop are accessible. The Panda Plaza Hot Dog Stand and the Valley Ice and Reptile Ice facilities are not accessible. Restrooms and more All public restrooms are accessible. All public telephones are accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. Telephones near Parking Lot B and Lot D are amplified. All banks of water fountains at the Zoo are accessible. Tours and publications Two free learning centers teach about animals, zoos and conservation. In addition to books and activities, there are many touchable items. ZOOlab is located in the Education Building. The Reptile Discovery Center in the Reptile House features a number of hands-on devices. Accessibility features are marked on the Zoo's plan and brochure. The Zoo publishes a "Guide for Disabled Visitors" in large print. It also publishes "Get Rollin'," a self-guided tour for people using wheelchairs. To obtain a copy of these brochures, or to obtain information about learning center hours, zoo programs, demonstrations, classes and workshops, call (202) 673-4717, or write to: Friends of the National Zoo 3001 Connecticut Ave. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20008 Visitors may arrange for sign-language, oral or cued-speech interpreters by calling (202) 673-4954 two weeks in advance. Metro The Zoo is located halfway between two stops on the Red Line. If you are coming to the Zoo, use the Cleveland Park Station. The Connecticut Avenue entrance is approximately a quarter-mile south-and downhill-from the station. When leaving the Zoo, go approximately a quarter-mile south-and downhill-to the Woodley Park-Zoo Station. Anacostia Museum 1901 Fort Place S.E. This museum of African American history and culture is devoted to the African American experience in the upper South-Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Washington, D.C. It also examines contemporary social issues-such as housing and health care-and is committed to the collection and preservation of contemporary popular culture. The Dr. George Washington Carver Nature Trail near the museum is not accessible to people using wheelchairs. There are two spaces designated for visitors with disabilities in the museum parking lot, which has 29 spaces altogether. Entrance A ramp leads from the parking lot to the building entrance. There are no automatic doors. Hours The Anacostia Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, when an exhibition is on view. To find out more about the museum's exhibition schedule, call Smithsonian Information at (202) 357-2700 (voice) or (202) 357-1729 (TTY). General information All public areas within the museum are accessible. The museum security desk, which serves as the information desk, is not fully accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. Restrooms and more The restroom is accessible. The public telephone is not accessible. There is an accessible water fountain in the lobby. Tours and publications Visitors may arrange special tours by calling (202) 287-3369. Three weeks' notice is suggested. Two weeks' advance notice is required for sign-language, oral or cued-speech interpreters. A lobby publications rack offers brochures on the museum's programs. Some publications are available in large print. Written texts are available for audio and video presentations. Metro Anacostia Station. Green Line. The station is approximately one mile from the museum. You can transfer to the W-1 or W-2 bus line at the Metro station. The W-1 and W-2 lines stop in front of the museum. By car From downtown Washington, D.C., drive south on Ninth Street N.W. to 395 N/295 S to the Martin Luther King Avenue exit; turn left on Morris Road; it becomes Erie Street, then Fort Place. In New York City Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum 2 East 91st Street, New York City Located in the former Andrew Carnegie mansion, the museum is devoted to the study and exhibition of historical and contemporary design. Its collection includes textiles, wallpaper, furniture, drawings, prints, woodwork, glass, metalwork, ceramics and industrial design. A research library is open to the public by appointment. Admission is $3 (free to Smithsonian Associates and museum members with cards); $1.50 to senior citizens and students over 12 with IDs. Hours Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (free after 5 p.m.). The museum is closed on Mondays, July 4, Thanksgiving Day, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Parking The City of New York has not designated any parking near the museum for people with disabilities. Entrance The main entrance is reached by a flight of three stairs. The front door is extremely heavy. The main hall of the museum is reached by a flight of eight stairs. Special arrangements for entry of disabled visitors can be made with door security or reception by calling (212) 860-6868 (voice) or (212) 860-6865 (TTY), or by ringing the bell at the staff entrance, which is located 15 yards east of the main entrance. These special arrangements involve entry through a gate at the staff entrance. General information Once a visitor has entered the museum proper, all public areas are accessible. The admissions desk inside the front entrance is not accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. The information desk in the main hall is accessible. The information desk offers a variety of brochures, gallery guides, tour and program schedules, and membership information. Assistive listening systems are available upon request for all programs. Audio and video presentations are captioned. Seating within the exhibition areas is limited. Restrooms and more All public restrooms, banks of public telephones and banks of water fountains at the Cooper-Hewitt are accessible. Tours and publications Visitors may arrange for special tours and sign-language interpretation by calling at least two weeks in advance. Call the Education Department at (212) 860-6899 (voice) or (212) 860-6865 (TTY). The museum map shows accessibility features, and floor plans are available in large type. Large-print brochures are provided for some exhibitions. National Museum of the American Indian One Bowling Green, New York City The George Gustav Heye Center of the National Museum of the American Indian opens in the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House in New York on Oct. 30, 1994. There will be three inaugural exhibitions, which will be complemented by a series of free public programs. The building, a National Historic Landmark, has been renovated to meet all accessibility standards. A full range of services for visitors will be provided. For recorded information about the museum, call (212) 668-6624. Visitors with questions about museum facilities may also write to: National Museum of the American Indian Suite 7102 MRC 935 470 L'Enfant Plaza Washington, D.C. 20560 Behind the Scenes Paul E. Garber Facility Old Silver Hill Road, Suitland, Md. Volunteer docents (museum guides) conduct free tours of this facility, where the National Air and Space Museum keeps aircraft and objects not on display in the museum. Visitors may also see restoration work in progress on airplanes and other artifacts. Advance reservations are required. Access by public transportation is difficult but possible. Parking There are two designated spaces for people with disabilities in the main building's parking lot. Entrances There is a passenger loading zone at the entrance to the main building. There is a ramp from the parking lot to the main building entrance. There are no automatic doors. All buildings on the tour are accessible. General information There is no heating or air-conditioning in the warehouse-type exhibit areas, so visitors should dress appropriately. Tours are free, but reservations are required. Tours last three hours and are open to individuals or groups of up to 45. Tours are scheduled for 10 a.m. on weekdays and for 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on weekends. Special tours for visitors with disabilities are available upon advance request. Visitors may arrange for sign-language, oral or cued-speech interpreters with two weeks' advance notice. Wheelchairs are available for visitors' use during the tour, with advance request. Call the National Air and Space Museum Education Services Department at (202) 357-1400 (voice) or (202) 357-1505 (TTY). Restrooms and more There are accessible public restrooms in Buildings 24 and 10 at the Garber Facility. There are no public telephones. There are no accessible water fountains. Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, Md. The Center is located seven miles south of Annapolis in Edgewater, Md., near the Chesapeake Bay. Here, Smithsonian scientists study human impact on the environment. Public programs help visitors learn more about the environment and about rational use of land and water resources. The Center is located in a remote area, on Contees Wharf Road. Visitors should call for directions. The Center is not accessible by public transportation. Parking Four designated parking spaces for people with disabilities are located approximately 80 feet from the main building, which is approached by a level sidewalk. Entrances There are no automatic doors at the entrance to the main building. Center buildings and the Java Nature Trail are accessible; canoe activities may pose problems, depending upon a visitor's disability. General information No wheelchairs are available to visitors. The Center does not provide assistive listening systems. There is no food service at the Center, but picnic tables are available to visitors. Restrooms and more There are accessible restrooms in the main building. The information desk is accessible. Tours and publications For information about scheduled programs; to arrange a special tour (20 days' advance notice); or to arrange for sign-language, oral or cued-speech interpreters (30 days' advance notice), call the Center's Education Office, (301) 261-4190. The fax number is (301) 261-7954. Brochures are available in simplified language. Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, Mass. A member of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, located on the grounds of the Harvard College Observatory, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory offers public programs in areas that include an auditorium, a rooftop observing site and a small exhibit area. These programs include free monthly Observatory Nights, featuring a non-technical lecture, a film and a telescopic observing. When this brochure went to press in May 1994, neither the areas nor the programs were accessible. However, Harvard University plans to complete the removal of barriers by the end of 1994. To arrange for sign-language interpreters for a lecture, contact the Center for Astrophysics Public Affairs Office two weeks in advance: (617) 495-7461 (voice); (617) 495-7468 (fax). Fred L. Whipple Observatory 670 Mount Hopkins Road, Amado, Ariz. This Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory facility is located within the Santa Rita Range of the Coronado National Forest. The Visitor Center, which is part of a larger base-camp complex, is designed to be fully accessible. Exhibitions, programming and publications for the new Center are still being developed. Completion of the Center is planned for late 1994. In the meantime, the Visitor Center is open to the public and is used for lectures, "star parties" and orientation for visitors taking reserved-seat bus tours of the mountaintop telescopes. Parking Designated parking for people with disabilities is available at the Visitor Center. There is a curb-cut and a no-grade paved walkway from the parking lot to the main entrance of the Visitor Center. There is designated parking for people with disabilities at the joint Smithsonian-U.S. Forest Service Trailhead/Picnic Area. There is a no-grade, paved path to the trailhead kiosk. When this brochure went to press, a steep gravel path to the picnic area and restrooms made the picnic area inaccessible. The Forest Service is designing exterior exhibits, picnic areas and trails that will have accessible portions. General information All areas of the Visitor Center are accessible. During the quarterly "star parties," selected telescopes are accessible. No wheelchairs are available for use by visitors. The information desk has information about tours, brochures and flyers, sky charts, and information about astronomy, the Smithsonian and Forest Service programs. Many materials will be available in Spanish and in large print. Video programs about the mountaintop facility are presented at the Visitor Center. Captioned versions of these programs are available. Restrooms and more Public restrooms are accessible. At press time, there were no public telephones in the Visitor Center. However, staff will assist visitors in making telephone calls. All water fountains are accessible. Tours and publications Visitors may reserve seats for bus tours of the mountaintop facility by calling (602) 670-5707 (voice), two to four weeks in advance. (A TTY will be available when the Visitor Center exhibits are complete.) Buses are not equipped with lifts for wheelchair users. People suffering from cardiac or respiratory problems are advised not to tour the mountaintop facilities, which are at altitudes above 2,100 meters (7,000 feet). Visitors may arrange for sign-language interpreters by calling the Public Affairs Office at the Whipple Observatory, (602) 670-5707 (voice) or (602) 670-5713 (fax) at least two weeks in advance.