As autumn weather slowly starts to creep up on us, September is the perfect time to escape the chill in the air. If you are looking to do something indoors while surrounding yourself with some culture, a visit to a museum is an absolute must. New York is known for having world-class museums and many are accessible. Here are a few museums across Long Island and New York City, along with details on their accessible amenities.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)
We can’t talk about museums in New York without mentioning The Met. Famous as one of the best museums in the world and the largest art museum in the United States, The Met is a sprawling, multi-level art museum located on Museum Row in Manhattan. The building has accessible entrances, elevators, ramps, and wheelchair access to exhibitions and the museum store. Wheelchairs are also available to rent at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis. The museum has clear, in-depth accessibility information for sensory, hearing, vision, and physical disabilities on their website.
American Museum of Natural History
A personal favorite of mine, the American Museum of Natural History is the world’s largest natural history museum. Located on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, across from Central Park, the Museum of Natural History houses an impressive collection of 32 million specimens of plants, animals, fossils, rocks, and all things related to nature. The museum is fully accessible, with multiple step-free entrances as well as accessible parking spaces. There are also accessible restrooms on every floor of the museum and wheelchairs are available to rent at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis at multiple locations throughout the museum. Visit their website for more information on access for people with vision, hearing, sensory, and physical disabilities.
Heckscher Museum of Art
Now, moving on to Long Island. Heckscher Park in Huntington is a beautiful park that everyone in your family will love. This outdoor spot features an accessible playground, scenic trails, and a large pond with ducks and swans. The park is also the home to The Heckscher Museum of Art, an accessible museum that’s welcoming for all. For those who attend public events at the museum and are hard-of-hearing, ASL interpretation is offered upon request. A wheelchair is available upon request for exploring exhibitions, and there’s an accessible restroom located in the museum. A “suggested admission” policy is in-place to remove cost barriers. Visit their website for further accessibility information.
Nassau County Museum of Art
Located in Roslyn Harbor on Long Island, the Nassau County Museum of Art is housed in a three-story mansion situated on a 145-acre property. It displays a collection of 600 works of art spanning from Europe to the Americas. The art museum also encompasses one of the largest publicly accessible sculpture gardens in all of the East Coast, hosting more than 30 sculptures throughout the grounds. The art museum is also fully accessible with ramps and an elevator. Wheelchairs are available to visitors free-of-charge and on a first come first-served basis. Accessible restrooms are located on the ground floor of the mansion, as well as in the Manes Center. Sensory kits are also available. Learn more about accessibility on their website.
Whether you’re interested in art, history, or both, a visit to the museum is a trip well worth your time!