Heritage strives to be accessible to visitors of all ages and abilities.

Please see the list below for the ways in which Heritage provides access to visitors. For additional access information please call our admission staff at 508-888-3300 ext. 0 or email us at info@heritagemuseums.org

Parking/Entrance

Parking

Accessible spaces are available. There are spaces reserved for handicapped parking, which are clearly marked in our Elm Parking lot; the parking lot most closely adjacent to our entrance and admission booth.

Parking is free for museums patrons.

For directions, please visit our directions and parking website.

Entrance

67 Grove Street is our current Main Entrance. We have two entrances to the parking lot on our property. The first entrance opens into an ellipse with a drop off area and access to the accessible parking in the Elm lot. If this entrance is closed, it is full for non-accessible patrons. Please let the parking attendants know you require assistance and they will direct you to into the Elm lot for accessible parking.

Transportation

Complimentary transportation for visitors with mobility challenges is available and can be accessed at seven fixed stops throughout the grounds at benches marked with the International Symbol of Access.

Our transport cart is equipped with a ramp that allows wheelchairs and small motorized scooters access on board. Please note larger motorized scooters may not fit on the transport cart.

The transport cart makes continuous loops approximately every 20 minutes.

Please be aware that transport does not offer guided tours.

Wheelchairs

A limited quantity of manual wheelchairs can be borrowed at the ticket booth and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Your license will be requested to borrow a wheelchair and will be returned upon your completion of use with the device.

No reservations are accepted.

We also welcome personal walkers, wheelchairs, and motorized scooters. Please note that bikes, scooters, and other recreational devices are not allowed on the property.

In the Galleries

Labels

All three gallery spaces have large print object labels and panels for those with low vision.

All videos in our gallery spaces have subtitles for those with auditory impairments.

Seating

All three gallery spaces have benches available to the public. Folding chairs can also be provided by a staff member upon request.

Restrooms

Heritage has accessible restrooms located in the J.K. Lilly III Automobile Gallery, Lilly’s Café, and the American Art & Carousel Gallery. These two gallery spaces are equipped with changing tables in all restrooms and are fully accessible to people who use wheelchairs, require assistance, or need privacy.

Water fountains

We have indoor accessible water fountains in the lower level of the J.K. Lilly III Automobile Gallery and in the American Art & Carousel Gallery.

Bag policy

Heritage allows visitors to bring bags and personal items into the gallery spaces. You may be asked to leave your larger bags in a safe location if they are endangering the saftey of the collections. We ask that no food or drinks are consumed in galleries. Exceptions are made for medical or religious needs.

On the Grounds

Pathways

For those with mobility issues, our main path is paved and incorporates moderate hills. A few areas are steeply graded, and we have many shell and wood chipped paths that may be manageable with an able-bodied assistant or are located near an ADA transport stop.

While most of the route is level or gently sloping, a few areas are more steeply graded, and are marked on the map available here or upon entry.

Our nature trails are not paved; please use caution on the trails which may have branches, roots, or other natural obstacles. When visiting Heritage, we recommend wearing comfortable shoes and giving yourself plenty of time to experience all that the gardens and grounds have to offer.

Service animals

We welcome legally registered service animals. For service animal guidelines in Massachusetts, please click here.

Dining

Lilly’s café is wheelchair accessible and provides accessible height serving windows, restrooms, and seating.

Restrooms

Heritage provides accessible portable restrooms at the entrance of the property, in the Elm lot, and behind the Special Exhibitions Gallery.

Water Fountains

Heritage has two accessible water fountains around the grounds. One is located at the entrance of the McGraw Family Garden of the Senses and the second is on the main entrance side of the Special Exhibitions Gallery.

Activities

We offer hands on activities in the gardens for those with low vision or on the autism spectrum on most Saturdays during the season. Please inquire with a staff member what activities may be available during your visit. All activities with pens/pencils/or art tools have modified grips for those with mobility challenges, available upon request.

There are low activity spaces around the grounds for those in need of quiet or non-stimulating areas. Please ask a staff member for recommendations if you need a quiet space.

Many of our spaces, such as Hidden Hollow and the Carousel, are busy during the end of the school year, from mid-May to mid-June with school groups from 10am-1pm. For quieter hours please visit in the afternoons.

Member Mornings provide early access to the gardens for those who need lower stimulation. Member Mornings are from 9am-10am on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays. For information on becoming a member please click here.

Upon request we can offer ASL tour interpreters for guided tours. During the Rhododendron and Hydrangea Festivals there are select dates when ASL tours are offered.

Access Programs and Tours

Member Mornings provide early access to the gardens for those who need lower stimulation. Member Mornings are from 9am-10am on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays. For information on becoming a member please click here.

For those desiring a guided tour, please contact groupsales@heritagemuseums.org and let them know of your accessibility needs when scheduling your visit so our staff can assist. We can assign interpretive guides, a transport vehicle, assisted listening devices, and more upon special request.

The McGraw Family Garden of the Senses invites visitors to navigate easy terrain while enjoying an experience designed to appeal to the senses of every visitor, regardless of age or ability. Its pathways were designed to eliminate barriers that, for some, present challenges to accessing all that Heritage has to offer.

Medical and Emergency Assistance (include AED)

Heritage has trained staff members in First Aid and AED. All security staff and managers can assist with medical needs when necessary and will respond within 120 seconds to a call. Find any staff member in navy and khaki with a radio and they can assist in an emergency.

Press Releases:

March 27, 2017: Participation in Museums for All https://heritagemuseumsandgardens.org/heritage-museums-gardens-announces-new-offerings-to-enhance-visitor-accessibility/

January 21, 2020: The McGraw Family Garden of the Senses

https://heritagemuseumsandgardens.org/hmg/mcgraw-family-garden-of-the-senses/

July 12, 2023: New Welcome Center increases Access https://heritagemuseumsandgardens.org/welcome-center-capital-campaign/