fbpx Accessibility in the Museum | George Eastman Museum

Accessibility in the Museum

Everyone is welcome at the George Eastman Museum.

If you have questions about accessibility of the museum or our programs, please contact [email protected] 

For information about website accessibility, please visit our Website Accessibility Statement. 

Parking

  • Accessible parking spaces are conveniently located near the museum entrance, in the main parking lot off of East Avenue

Entrance

  • To visit the museum (galleries and historic mansion), Open Face (eatery), Museum Shop, and Dryden Theatre:
    • Use the accessible main entrance at the Thomas Tischer Visitor Center
      • Includes a drop-off area for a person using a wheelchair or a walker

Wheelchairs & Canes

  • Three manual wheelchairs are available for visitor use within the museum
  • Two canes are available for visitor use within the museum
    • Use of the wheelchair/cane is free; first come, first served
    • Request a wheelchair/cane at the Thomas Tischer Visitor Center (museum admissions desk)

Elevators

  • Mansion elevator: 
    • Accessible, but it is historic and has a weight limit
    • May not accommodate certain motorized scooters or wheelchairs; guests may request one of the wheelchairs available on-site (see Wheelchairs above)
    • The elevator in the mansion will be operated by museum staff exclusively for those unable to use the stairs. 
  • 1989 building:
    • All public areas in the 1989 building are on a single floor
    • For researchers, workshop participants, and other guests visiting the library, study centers, and other secured areas of the museum, there is an accessible elevator

Restrooms

  • Accessible, multiple stall, men’s and women’s restrooms in three areas of the museum:
    • The Thomas Tischer Visitor Center
    • The Potter Peristyle
    • Second floor of the mansion
  • Restrooms with baby changing tables include
    • The men and women's restrooms near the Dryden Theatre 
    • The unisex bathroom near the coatroom
    • The men and women's restrooms in the Potter Peristyle
    • Women's restroom on the 2nd floor of the mansion 

Parent Room

  • At the George Eastman Museum, we provide private accommodations for parents and caregivers to feed, change, and attend to infants and young children. The Parent Room, located on the first floor off the Conservatory, includes a door that locks, rocking chair and footrest, sink with running water, trash can, and sanitation supplies. To use this room, as it is outside of the area where visitor's typically have access, please contact the front desk and an employee would be happy to direct you to the space. 

Service Animals 

  • Service animals are welcome
    • Water and food for service animals must be kept in sealed containers and used only in areas where food and drink are allowed in the museum
  • The museum follows the ADA regulations regarding service animals
    • Service animals are animals trained to perform specific tasks for an individual
    • Comfort, therapy, companion, or emotional support animals are not service animals as defined by the ADA and are not allowed in the museum

Bloomberg Connects

  • The George Eastman Museum has partnered with Bloomberg Connects to enhance accessibility for all visitors. Through this collaboration, the museum has introduced several new features on the free app, including:

    • Alt-text for Images: Every image on the app includes descriptive alt-text, making visual content accessible to visitors with visual impairments
    • Audio Transcripts: All media pieces are accompanied by audio transcripts, providing text versions of spoken content for those who prefer or require reading over listening
    • Zoom and Font Adjustments: Users can zoom in on images and adjust the font size of text to improve readability and cater to individual visual needs
    • Multilingual Support: All museum content on the app is available in 25+ languages

    To download Bloomberg Connects visit the Apple or Google store on your Smartphone device. Once you have downloaded the app search for "George Eastman Museum."

Individuals who are Blind/Low Vision

  • Braille guides are available at the front admissions desk. At the end of your visit please return these guides to the desk. 
  • See the Bloomberg Connects section above for details on how the museum's app can further assist with accessibility. 

Individuals who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing

  • Self-guided tours
    • Printed transcripts of the mansion tour are available at the Thomas Tischer Visitor Center (museum admissions)
    • See the Bloomberg Connects section above for details on how the museum's app can further assist with accessibility
  • Closed captioning and subtitles
    • Interpretive videos throughout the museum have closed captioning
    • In the Dryden Theatre, screenings of films in languages other than English are presented with English subtitles

Non-English Tours

  • Printed information about George Eastman and the mansion and gardens is available in Spanish, French, German, and Chinese
    • Request a copy at the Thomas Tischer Visitor Center (museum admissions)