National Gallery of Art - PLAN A VISIT

Accessibility

See the latest information on gallery, restaurant, and restroom closures due to renovations at the museum.

Arriving and Parking
The 6th Street entrance to the West Building at Constitution Avenue and the 4th Street entrance to the East Building each have ramps to accommodate visitors in wheelchairs or with strollers. The 6th Street entrance may be used as a drop-off and pick-up location. Image: The international symbol of accessibilityVisitors with vehicles displaying the international symbol of accessibility may park in the spaces available on the west side of 4th Street along the curb inside the plaza. Additional parking spaces for such vehicles are available at the following locations: two spaces in front of the Mall entrance to the West Building and three spaces just past the Sculpture Garden on Madison Drive. If you have a disability and cannot find a parking space, please see the security officer stationed outside the West Building on the 4th Street plaza.

Wheelchair and Stroller Availability and Accessibility
Wheelchairs and strollers are available on a first-come, first-served basis at all entrances. The exhibition spaces and public facilities are accessible by elevator. Elevator use by visitors with disabilities may require assistance. The Gallery's free Map and Visitors Guide, which lists all accommodations, including accessible restrooms, can be obtained at any information desk in the West or East Buildings. Floor plans of the West and East Buildings showing these accommodations can be viewed online.

The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, located between 7th and 9th Streets NW on the Mall, is wheelchair-accessible. Accessible restrooms are available at the Pavilion Café.

Programs for Visitors with Disabilities

Sign Language InterpretationASL at the NGA: An Introduction to the West Building Collection
Tours of the West Building collections are offered in American Sign Language (ASL), with voice interpretation into English, the second Sunday of each month at 1:00 departing from the Rotunda. For dates and more information about the tour schedule, please visit the Guided Tours page.

Image: Audio DescriptionPicture This: Tours for People with Visual Impairments
Tours with an emphasis on verbal description of the West and East Building collections are offered on the fourth Wednesday of every month at 1:00. For dates and more information about the tour schedule, please visit the Guided Tours page.

Image: Audio Description for TV, Video and FilmAudio Described Films
Please check the current listings for information about upcoming audio described films.

Special Tours, Audio Devices, and Print Materials
Interpreted tours for visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing and guides for visitors who are blind or partially sighted are available upon request for tours of the permanent collection as well as for special exhibitions. To make an appointment, please call (202) 842-6247 or the Gallery's Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (202) 842-6176 three weeks in advance. The Gallery offers printed scripts of all recorded tours, and free large-print brochures are available at the entrance to some of the special exhibitions. Large headphones, which deliver full-frequency, amplified digital audio sound in a lightweight design, are offered at the recorded-tour desk for special exhibitions that have an Acoustiguide tour and for The Director's Tour.

Both East Building auditoriums are equipped with special auditory systems. Receivers and neck loops necessary to access these systems can be borrowed from the information desk located on the ground level of the East Building. The Lecture Hall in the West Building is similarly equipped with a special auditory system. Receivers and neck loops for this space can be borrowed from the information desk at the 6th Street and Constitution Avenue entrance to the West Building.

Closed-Captioned Films
Films shown in conjunction with special exhibitions are closed captioned. A closed-caption button is located at the entrance to every film viewing space within special exhibitions. A closed-caption button is also located at the entrance to the East Building small auditorium for all films related to special exhibitions.

The subtitle activation works as follows:
When the button is pressed, the subtitles are activated. Once activated, they will stay on until the button is pressed again or until the video reaches the same point in the replay at which the button was pressed originally. For example, if the button was pressed 2 minutes into the video, the subtitles will stay on until 2 minutes into the next replay.

Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD)
A TDD for use by visitors is located at the public telephone adjacent to the stamp machine near the Concourse Book Shop between the East and West Buildings. This TDD is situated to accommodate wheelchair users.

Braille Automatic Teller Machine (ATM)
A braille ATM is available near the Concourse Book Shop.

Further Information
For further information or assistance, please call (202) 842-6179 or Visitor Services at (202) 842-6690, Monday through Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.