Accessibility/Amenities

Arriving by Car and Parking

Twenty parking spaces for persons with disabilities are reserved at the top of our parking lots. These spaces are subject to applicable parking fees. Eight more parking spots are reserved at the top of the driveway, near the entrance. These spaces are free when available. Drivers may also drop off passengers at the front entrance. It's best to avoid arriving between 10 and 11 a.m. on weekday mornings during the school year, when the entrance area is often crowded with school buses.

For help getting into the building, call (513) 287-7048 (TTY access through Ohio Relay Service at 1-800-750-0750) at least 24 hours in advance. Security staff will arrange assistance for you.

Arriving by Van or Bus

Drivers, including Queen City Metro Access service, may drop you off at the entrance. If you will need help, call (513) 287-7048 (TTY access through Ohio Relay Service at 1-800-750-0750) at least 24 hours in advance. Security staff will arrange assistance for you.

Entrance

There is one visitor entrance to Cincinnati Museum Center at the top of our long driveway, under the big clock. Though there is an uphill slope from our parking lot, the entrance is fully accessible.

Automatic Front Doors

The historic front doors at Cincinnati Museum Center are quite heavy. The ones to the far left and far right have push-plates mounted on the wall for automatic opening. Some interior doors of the same type also have push-plate controls.

Elevators

As you enter the museums, there's an elevator alcove on the right in the Cincinnati History Museum and on the left for the Museum of Natural History & Science. These elevators serve all three levels of the museums: C (Concourse), M (Mezzanine) and LL (Lower Level).These levels are marked in Braille on the inside of the elevator doorframes. An elevator from the Rotunda, to the right of the main entrance as you come in, serves the Duke Energy Children’s Museum.

Ramps

A series of wide ramps flow through the Cincinnati History Museum and the Museum of Natural History & Science, taking you to each of their three levels. This one-way path passes by ALL of the exhibits and ends on the lowest level where you can take an elevator back up. Along the path in the Cincinnati History Museum, there is one set of steps next to an optional wheelchair lift. Staff is available for assistance if needed.

OMNIMAX Theater Access Notes

The OMNIMAX Theater can be reached by elevator as well as by stairs. Ushers are available to escort you to a seat at the top of the theater. With recent renovations the OMNIMAX Theater now offers more inclusion technologies: Rear Screen Captioning (a scrolling text signboard at the rear of the theater will provide captioning for up to twenty-five hearing-impaired patrons using Plexiglas reflection boards at their seats) and Radio Frequency Headsets (up to 25 patrons can utilize these remote headsets for alternative soundtracks including a descriptive track for the blind, an amplified soundtrack for the hearing-impaired, or alternative language tracks. Be sure to ask your ushers about these accommodations.

AMENITIES

Restrooms and Water

Near the elevators on Mezzanine and Lower levels, there are accessible restrooms with Braille labeling on the door signs. Water fountains are near the elevators on the Lower level only and are wheelchair accessible.

ATM Machine

An ATM machine is located near the front entrance in the Rotunda next to the Security Office.

Lockers

There are lockers to the left of the south concourse on route to the OMNIMAX Theater, near the Rotunda level Men's restroom. There are also lockers off the Duke Energy Children's Museum lobby, to the left at the bottom of the escalator. Lockers require two quarters. There are change machines located next to these locker areas.

Stroller Rental

Strollers can be rented at the kiosk for a $10 refundable deposit plus a charge of $2.

Wheelchair Rental

A limited number of wheelchairs are available at no charge at the kiosk with a $10 refundable deposit.

First Aid Services

First Aid services are available in the Security Office near the front entrance to the Museum.

TTY Telephone

A TTY pay telephone is located on the south concourse on route to the OMNIMAX® Theater.

Special Needs Room

The Special Needs room is a private space for any personal or family need or crisis located in the concourse area of the Rotunda.

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