The Library has accessible rest rooms, water fountains and telephones. Locations are indicated by signs in each building. In the Madison Building the accessible rest rooms are in the blue and yellow corners, and a pay phone TTY is available on the first floor. This information furnished by the Library of Congress.
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National Air and Space Museum
7th and Independence Ave, SW
Washington, D.C.
(202) 633-1000
Visit the National Air and Space Museum Website here
Special Services: The exhibits and programs of the National Air and Space Museum are designed to be accessible to disabled visitors. All of the Museum's regularly scheduled activities can be adapted for groups with special needs. Please inform the tour scheduler of any service you may need.
Public Transportation: The L'Enfant Plaza Metro Station is approximately 2 blocks from the Museum's Independence Avenue entrance; the nearest elevator and escalator exits are at 7th Street and Maryland Avenue, S.W. Bus stops are located on Independence Avenue within one block of the Museum.
Parking: Free three-hour parking is available on Jefferson Drive (the Mall) after 10:00 a.m. A number of spaces are designated for vehicles displaying the international accessibility sign.
Accessibility: Independence Avenue and Jefferson Drive entrances have ramps. An elevator is available to all levels of Museum.
Information: Information on all programs and facilities is available at the Information Desk and on the computer interactive video booth located in the South Lobby (Independence Avenue side).
For Visitors in Wheelchairs: Barrier-free environment. Wheelchairs available from the coat check attendant on the first floor. Elevator services to all floors Accessible restrooms and water fountains. Space for wheelchairs in the Theater, Planetarium, and Briefing Room For Visually Impaired Visitors.
Large print brochures/Braille: Cassette tapes describing three galleries Cassette recorder. A booklet of raised line drawings of Museum artifacts. Tours that allow the visitor to touch models and artifacts can be scheduled by calling (202) 357-1400.
For Deaf and Hard-Of-Hearing Visitors: Closed captioning for all daytime shows in the Langley IMAX Theater. Open captioning for all shows in the Einstein Planetarium. Open captioning for all exhibits videos. Printed transcripts for all interactive computer exhibits. Amplified and TTY public telephones in the South Lobby. Interpreter can be arranged for tours or for any Museum program by calling (202) 357-1400 (voice) or (202) 357-1505 (TTY) at least two weeks in advance.
For Mentally Retarded Visitors: Program that includes a slide presentation, a tour of five galleries, and a chance to handle real aerospace objects can be scheduled by calling (202) 357-1400.
For more information on programs for disabled visitors, contact: Tour Scheduler National Air and Space Museum Washington, DC.:
(202) 357-1400 voice
(202) 633-8928 fax
(202) 357-1505 TTY
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National Aquarium
14th Street and Constitution Avenue, SW
Commerce Building
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 482-2826
Take the metro to the Federal Triangle metro stop. The aquarium is wonderfully accessible and is all on one level. The bathroom is completely accessible as well.
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National Museum of American History
14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC
For disability information (M-F 9a-5p, S & S 10a-4p):
(202) 633-1000 voice
Visit the National Museum of American History Website here
Information desks are located at the Mall and Constitution Avenue entrances and are staffed daily 10a-4p. Limited parking is available on streets near the mall from 10am to midnight. Taxis are available at museums entrances. Metro stops are Federal Triangle & Smithsonian on the blue & orange lines.
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National Gallery of Art
6th Street at Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20565
(202) 737-4215
Hours: Monday - Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 6pm
Parking: Four permit-only spaces on Madison Drive in front of the East Building.
Visit the National Gallery of Art Website here
The gallery is very accessible, with elevators and cement floors.
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National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution
10th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC
(202) 633-1000 voice
Visit the National Museum of Natural History Website here
Access: The wheelchair accessible entrance to the building is located at 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. The Mall side of the museum is not accessible to individuals in wheelchairs and those who cannot climb stairs readily. Metro: The Federal Triangle metro station provides the best subway access to the building. Most museum services, including the Johnson IMAX® Theater and the Atrium Café are accessible to visitors with disabilities. Loop amplification is available in the center front rows of Baird Auditorium. For special services for groups, please call:
(202) 786-2178 voice
(202) 633-9287 TTY
(202) 786-2778 fax
To receive a large-type version of the text of the calendar of events, call 202-357-4014 or TTY 202-633-9287.
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The National Zoo of Washington, DC
3001 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 673-4800
Visit the National Zoo Website here
The zoo has many accessibility features, including audio-described tours, Braille and accessible bathrooms. However, the zoo terrain is very, very hilly - therefore if you use a manual wheelchair be prepared to need a push from someone else. Some of the hills are so steep they are dangerous.
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Old Town Trolley Tours of Washington, DC
(202) 832-9800
24 hour notice is required for a wheelchair accessible trolley.
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The Phillips Collection
1600 21st Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 387-2152
Visit The Phillips Collection Website here
The locals here will tell you that this tucked away gem of an art museum rivals the collection of the larger, high profile galleries. A 1999 renovation resulted in a text book example of accessibility; a slightly curving ramp, elevators everywhere, and accommodations for people with hearing and visual disabilities. Making this collection of art this accessible in a 19th century mansion is commendable.
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Spirit of Washington Dinner Cruise
Pier 4, 6 N. Water Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024
(202) 554-8000
Visit the Spirit of Washington Dinner Cruise Website here
Evening dinner cruises for special events or individuals. Call for reservations. They have a parking lot with three accessible spaces and a ramp to get onto the boat. The ramp is very steep and it may not be possible for a power chair or scooter to make it up. There is no access to the boats top deck and the bathroom is very cramped.
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United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
100 Raoul Wallenberg Place SW
Washington DC 20024-2126
Main telephone: (202) 488-0400
TTY: (202) 488-0406
Visit the Holocaust Museum Website here
This museum is located in a very busy, tourist-filled area of Washington, DC. It has been enormously popular since its 1993 opening. You can view detailed accessibility information on their website here. The alloted permit-only spaces are frequently filled, however the indoors are very accommodating for all diabilities.
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The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20500
Main telephone: (202) 456-1414
TTY: (202) 456-6213
Visit the White House Website here
Mobility-Impaired/Using a Wheelchair: Guests requiring the loan of a wheelchair should notify the officer at the Visitors Entrance Building upon arrival. Wheelchair loans are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are not possible.
Visitors in wheelchairs, or with other mobility disabilities, on the Congressional guided or self-guided tours, between 8:00 a.m. and 12 noon, use the same Visitor entrance and, with up to four members of their party, are admitted without waiting in line and without tickets.
Visitors in wheelchairs are escorted by ramp from the entrance level to the ground floor, and by elevator from the ground to the state floor. Guests generally wait in line with their family or group.
Hearing-Impaired: Tours for hearing-impaired groups may be arranged in advance by writing to the Visitors Office, White House, Washington, DC 20502. Tours are usually scheduled at 9:30 a.m., between the Congressional and public tour times. Participants enter at the East Appointment gate. A U.S. Secret Service/Uniformed Division Tour Officer conducts the tour in sign language. Signed tours are available to groups of 8 to 20. Groups are also encouraged to bring their own interpreters. Signing interpretation is also available for individual visitors with advance notice. A Congressional office first issues guided tour tickets to a guest who is hearing-impaired and then contacts the Visitors Office at least 2 weeks in advance to request interpreter service.
Visually-Impaired: Tours for visually-impaired groups may be arranged in advance by writing to the Visitors Office, White House, Washington, DC 20502. The tours are usually scheduled at 9:30 a.m., between the Congressional and public tour times. Participants enter at the East Appointment gate. A U.S. Secret Service/Uniformed Division Tour Officer permits visitors to touch specific objects in the House. Touch tours are currently available only to groups of 8 to 20, not to individual visitors. Guide animals are permitted in the White House.
General Tour Information: All White House tours are free. Changes in tour schedules are occasionally made because of official events. Notice may not be given until that morning. Visitors should confirm tour schedules by calling the information line the night before and the morning that they plan to visit. It is occasionally necessary to close individual rooms on the tour; however, notice about closed rooms is not possible.
On-street parking is not available near the White House, and use of public transportation is strongly encouraged. The closest Metrorail stations to the White House Visitor Center (southeast corner of 15th and E Streets) are Federal Triangle (blue and orange lines) and Metro Center (blue, orange, and red lines).
Public telephones and restrooms are not available at the White House; the nearest ones are in the Visitor Pavilion on the Ellipse, the park area south of the White House, and in the White House Visitor Center.
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U.S. Botanical Gardens
1st Street, SW
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 225-8333
Visit the U.S. Botanical Gardens Website here
One of the District's best kept secrets, the garden is actually a museum to thousands of living plants and flowers. From a simulated jungle to an enormous greenhouse, you will forget you are even in downtown DC. The entire place is wonderfully accessible, inlcuding permit-only spaces right out front, automatic doors, a TTY and an elevator.
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Washington National Cathedral
Massachussetts and Wisconsin Avenue
Washington, DC
Main telephone: (202) 364-6616
Visit the Washington National Cathedral Website here
Touring Hours
Monday-Saturday 10-11:30 am; 12:45-3:15 pm
Sunday 12:30-2:30 pm
Tours begin at the Cathedral's west end.
Donation: $3 adult, $1 child.
The Church is wheelchair accessible, audio tours are available.
Services: Mon - Fri 10am to 3:15pm; Sun 12:30pm to 2:45pm; Services Mon - Fri 7:30am, 12pm, 4pm; Sun 8am, 9am, 10am, 11am, 4pm.
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