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  4. Physical Access to Museum Buildings

Physical Access to Museum Buildings

Our campus re-creates a historical seafaring village and working waterfront, including dirt roads, cobblestone walkways, wooden gangways, and shell surfaces that make traveling throughout parts of the campus difficult for some visitors. Buildings are reconstructed or maintained in their original 18th- or 19th-century form often having several entrance steps, narrow doorways and hallways, and other physical barriers.

Mystic Seaport has made significant effort to improve the handicap accessibility on the grounds. Currently, about one-third of the exhibit buildings are wheelchair accessible to the front door. However, interior access does vary. Further improvements to expand handicap accessibility are planned for the future and continue to be implemented as possible.

The list below outlines each of our historic buildings, vessels, and exhibit spaces’ entryways.

Please note: the list below is designed to provide an overview of access to various locations throughout the Museum grounds. This in no way indicates accessibility as defined by current State or Federal regulations. The Museum is a reproduced 19th-century village and roadways, buildings, and accessways are portrayed in as authentic a manner as possible. Mystic Seaport is working on enhancing accessibility in a variety of ways while maintaining the authenticity of the Museum experience.

Key

Accessible entrance Accessible Entrance accessible via ramp or incline. Interior access varies. Note: accessibility does not indicate entrance meets current ADA regulations; only that a wheelchair or stroller can reach the location/exhibit entryway via ramp or ground level entry.
++ Limited Access One or two steps. Assistance may be needed and helpful.
+++ Difficult Access Three or more steps; narrow doorways; cobblestone walk; gangways with wood battens
S Seasonal Staff Interpretation staff available seasonally
F Full-Time Staff Staffed during Museum hours
SHIPYARD EXHIBITS
Map Building Access Staffed Description
51 Shiplift Accessible S Outdoor; ground level
50 Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard Accessible S Ground-level access to view interior work in progress
Shipyard Gallery +++ S Entrances at both ends of exhibit have multiple flights of stairs
49 Shipbuilding Exhibit Accessible Ground level; 38″ doorway
Shipyard Restroom ++ Behind shipbuilding exhibit; 2 steps; 34″ doorway

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HISTORIC and VISITING VESSELS; WATERCRAFT
Map Vessels Access Staffed Description
L.A. Dunton, 1921 +++ F Gangway with wood battens; Multiple steps down to deck.
50 Sabino, 1908 Accessible S Temporarily in Shipyard Gallery undergoing restoration. The ship is expected to return to her berth in summer 2016.
29 Joseph Conrad, 1882 +++ F Gangway with wood battens; Multiple steps down to deck.
Charles W. Morgan, 1841 +++ F Gangway with wood battens; Multiple steps down to deck.
Brilliant, 1932 Accessible S Brilliant Dock located at Lighthouse Point at ground level. Access to vessel for sailing program participants only.
Visiting Vessels +++ Gangway with wood battens
Note: public access to vessels varies with each vessel and by visit.
Shuttle – South End +++  S Gangway with wood battens access to docks
Shuttle – North End +++  S Gangway with wood battens access to docks
Other Watercraft Accessible For exterior viewing only. Viewing areas at ground level.

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VILLAGE EXHIBITS
Map Exhibits Access Staffed Description
48 Thomas Oyster House Accessible Wooden ramp
47 Mystic River Scale Model Accessible Wooden side ramp; Front access 5 steps; 60″ doorway
36 Lobster Shack Accessible Side ramp
37 Life Saving Station Accessible 60+” front ramp
Halfway House Accessible Ground level
38 John Gardner Boat Shop Accessible S Side ramp; front access 3 steps; 31″ doorway
38 Toy Boats activity (seasonal) ++ S 2 steps; 31″ doorway
35 Salmon Shack +++ 3 steps
34 Schooner Australia Exhibit Accessible Ground level entryway; 32″ doorway
33 Boathouse Accessible S Front ramp (weather permitting); side entrance 4 steps
Marine Railway Accessible Dirt pathway with open viewing
32 Tom Clagett Boat Shed Accessible Open air gathering; shell surface
30 Mystic Seaport Sailing Center +++ S 4 steps
28 Small Boat Exhibit: Catboats Accessible Ground level; 35″ doorway
27 Ropewalk +++ 5 steps; 36″ doorway
26 Sail Loft/Rigging Loft +++ 4 steps; 35″ doorway; Internal stairs to access
26 Chandlery Accessible S Ground level; 65″ doorway
25 Clam Shack ++ Small step to wooden dock
24 Shipsmith Shop ++ F 1 step; Double doorway entry opened seasonally/weather permitting.
23 Nautical Instrument Shop Accessible  F Side ramp with 35″ doorway; Front access 5 steps 31″ doorway
Fire Engine Garage ++ 1 step
22 Hoop Shop +++ 4 steps; 60″ doorway
40 Shipcarver’s Shop +++ S 31″ doorway; 60″ doorway opened seasonally/weather permitting
21 Mystic Print Shop +++ F 4 steps; 35″ doorway
20 Middle Wharf Accessible Ground level; Wooden wharf
19 Burrows House +++ 3 steps; 36″ doorway
18 Cooperage +++ F 4 steps; 32″ side and front doorway
41 Drug Store Accessible S Side wooden ramp; 3 steps front entry; 50″ doorway
17 Bank ++ 2 steps; 36″ doorway
17 Shipping Office
(upstairs Bank)		 +++ Large flight wooden stairs
15 Whaleboat Exhibit Accessible Ground level; Shell surfacing; 30″ doorway
14 Chubb’s Wharf Accessible Ground level, Shell surfacing
42 Seamen’s Friend Society Accessible S 3 steps front entry; Side ramp; 32″ doorway
46 Discovery Barn (seasonal) Accessible S 60″ wooden ramp
43 Stone’s General Store +++ F 3 steps; 32″ doorway
44 School House +++ 3 steps; 32″ doorway
45 Chapel ++ 2 steps; 59″ doorway
11 Buckingham-Hall House +++ F Front entry large stone walk way 38″ doorway; Back ramp 41″ entry stone walkway before reaching ramp
13 Performance Stage Accessible S Ground level
10 Children’s Museum Accessible F Side ramp with 32″ doorway; Front entry 5 steps
9 Treworgy Planetarium Accessible F 60″ doorway; Side ramp
9 Campbell Room/Howell Classroom (below Planetarium) +++ Descending stone staircase; 37″ doorway
8 Thomas Greenman House +++ 3 steps; 34″ doorway
8 Thomas Greenman Bathroom Annex Accessible 36″ doorway
7 Playscapes Ground level but not designed for handicap accessibility
38 Toy Boat Building Accessible F Outside annex ground level (seasonal); 3 steps 27″ doorway
31 Brant Point replica Lighthouse Accessible Ramp to exhibit; 35″ doorway; 32″ interior doorway
39 Art Spot +++ S 3 steps; 31″ doorway (seasonal)

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EXHIBIT GALLERIES
Map Buildings Access Staffed Description
6 Stillman Building Accessible F Ground level; 34″ doorway; Elevator in building
5 Wendell Building Accessible Ground level; 36″ doorway
4 C.D. Mallory Building Accessible F Side ramp; 44″ doorway
4 P.R. Mallory Building Accessible F Ground level; 36″ doorway through the Mallory Building; 3 steps direct access
3 Greenmanville Church Accessible Side ramp 36″ doorway; 4 step front entry
2 R.J. Schaefer Building Accessible F Side ramp 42″ doorway
1 Thompson Exhibition Building Accessible F Side ramp 42″ doorway

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SHOPPING
Building Access Staffed Description
Museum Store & Book Store Accessible F Ramp 60″ doorway to main floor; Book Store located on Second floor stair access only.
Maritime Gallery Accessible  F Ramp at VRC
Variety Store +++  S 5 steps; 36″ doorway

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DINING
Building Access Staffed Description
Latitude 41° Restaurant Accessible F Rear ramp with automated doorway; 4 steps front access
Café & Bake Shop Accessible F Entry through Store via ramp; Front small bluestone walkway with 3-step entry
The Galley Restaurant (seasonal) Accessible S Front ramp; Internal ramp to restrooms and upper order area
Spouter Tavern (seasonal) ++ S Outside seasonal eating area – shell surfaced ground level; 2 step 31″ doorway

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ADMINISTRATIVE and OTHER BUILDINGS
Building Access Staffed Description
Visitor Reception Center Accessible F Wooden ramp
Navigation Station Accessible S Ground-level access
Dock Office Accessible S Ground level
Security/First Aid ++ F 2 steps
Membership Building ++ F Stone steps; 34″ entry
Collections & Research Center Accessible S Side ramp 36″ doorway; Front access six steps 36″ doorway
North End Restrooms Accessible S Ramp; 35″ doorway

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Please note: the list above is designed to provide an overview of access to various locations throughout the Museum grounds. This in no way indicates accessibility as defined by current State or Federal regulations only that a wheelchair or stroller can reach the location/exhibit entryway via ramp or ground level entry. The Museum is a replica 19th-century village and roadways, buildings, and access ways are portrayed in as authentic a manner as possible. Mystic Seaport works to enhance accessibility while maintaining the authenticity of the Museum experience.