Accessibility
Please review the following information about Accessibility options available at LancasterHistory. This list may change periodically to reflect current as well as new offerings and accommodations as they are available. If you have suggestions on how we can make your experience at LancasterHistory more enjoyable or engaging or more enjoyable or engaging for individuals with disabilities in the future, please let us know. We want everyone to be able to enjoy and learn about Lancaster County’s history!
If you have any questions about accessibility or accommodations at LancasterHistory that are not addressed by the content below, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at (717) 392-4633 or info@lancasterhistory.org.
If you have additional questions about planning your visit to LancasterHistory, please consult our Visitor FAQ webpage.
Baby Changing Tables & Lactation Room
There are three baby changing tables available in LancasterHistory’s main Museum building: one in the Women’s Restroom on the first floor, one in the Men’s Restroom on the first floor, and one in the All-Gender Restroom on the lower level. The All-Gender Restroom may be used by anyone, regardless of gender identity and/or expression.
The All-Gender Restroom is also a large, lockable, single stall room with a chair. This room may also serve as a lactation room for nursing individuals.
Building & Grounds Accessibility
The Museum
There are accessible parking spaces near the entrance to the museum along North President Avenue. LancasterHistory’s main entrance is accessible. The doors open automatically when activated by pushing a large, silver button. Manual wheelchairs are available at no additional cost at Visitor Services in Ware Commons on a first come, first serve basis.
All restrooms have one wheelchair accessible stall per restroom. All restrooms are equipped with automatic sinks and automatic flushing toilets. The soap dispensers are manually operated. There are paper towels as well as air-dryers for drying hands. Please note that the automatic flushing toilets and air-dryers are loud and can activate suddenly, which may be loud and overstimulating.
Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) are available to those attending a lecture or other special event in which there is a speaker. They are available on a first come, first serve basis.
The museum is generally a low-volume place, with slight background, ambient music. However, volume levels can increase suddenly should there be many visitors in spaces at the same time.
There are chairs and benches throughout the museum that can be used by visitors to rest.
President James Buchanan’s Wheatland
Traveling from the museum to Wheatland involves walking on paved paths and a small 4-5 step, stone staircase with railing. LancasterHistory has also installed a paved ADA accessible path and ramp to Wheatland from the museum. To view the route of the path, please see this map.
The first floor of Wheatland is accessible by wheelchair. The second floor, however, is only accessible by stair. We are happy to provide alternative accommodations, such as a short, written guidebook to read or a pre-recorded video tour of the second floor, to guests who would like them. Please notify a Visitor Services Associate upon your arrival if you wish to utilize one of these options, or notify your Wheatland Tour Guide.
Wheatland is typically a low-volume space where the primary speakers are the tour guides leading a tour. However, many tour groups in the home, such as during a bus or group tour, may increase volume levels and be overstimulating with many speakers talking at the same time from different locations within the house.
On a tour of Wheatland, visitors can expect to be standing for upwards of an hour. Non-historic chairs are available in rooms that guests can sit upon. Please notify your Tour Guide should you wish to rest.
The Tanger Arboretum and Grounds of LancasterHistory (The Campus of History)
The grounds of LancasterHistory includes the Tanger Arboretum, which is composed of both paved and unpaved pathways throughout the property. To view a map of the grounds as well as see what pathways are paved versus unpaved, please click here. Paved paths include those made of concrete, macadam, or a crushed rubber-like material. Unpaved pathways include those made of grass, wood chips, or pine needles on top of ground dirt.
If you have any additional questions about the accessibility of any buildings or areas, please do not hesitate to contact LancasterHistory at info@lancasterhistory.org, our Contact Us page, or by calling (717) 392-4633.
Parking & Local Transportation
Cars: LancasterHistory has ample, on-site parking, including accessible parking spaces. Accessible parking spaces are available throughout LancasterHistory’s lot, but the closest spaces are available at the main entrance facing North President Avenue. Please enter off of North President Avenue and follow the curve of the first lot up to the building. The spaces are at the top of that lot near the door to the main building. (The main building is modern with a wave-like roofline.)
Ride Share: If traveling via a ride share, such as Uber or Lyft, please use the address: 230 North President Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603. Please encourage your driver to use the main entrance which is off of North President Avenue.
Bus: If traveling via Red Rose Transit, please take the Lancaster City Route 2/Park City B-6th Ward route. The nearest stop to LancasterHistory is at Walnut and College Avenues. For a map of the routes, please visit the Red Rose Transit website.
Bike: LancasterHistory has a bike rack on the west side of the building, facing Wheatland. Nearby bike share options include Bike It Lancaster. Please view their website for information on bike racks and bike lanes in Lancaster.
Restrooms
LancasterHistory’s main building, the Museum, has restrooms on both building levels. There is an All-Gender, lockable, single-stall restroom on the lower level of the museum. The All-Gender Restroom may be used by anyone, regardless of gender identity and/or expression. We understand that the building’s configuration may make it difficult for visitors to locate the All-Gender Restroom. Please feel free to ask a LancasterHistory staff member or consult the Visitor Guide and Map for the location should you need any assistance.
There are no public restrooms in President James Buchanan’s Wheatland.
Service Animals
Service animals are welcome at LancasterHistory, including in President James Buchanan’s Wheatland.*
*Due to the historic nature and size of Wheatland, miniature horses are not permitted in Wheatland.