Accessibility at the USS Constitution Museum
Set sail on a voyage of discovery today!
The Museum welcomes visitors of all abilities and needs and is committed to the ongoing work of ensuring the museum is educational, engaging, and inclusive for all.
For general access information, call 617-426-1812 x101. Inquiries for more in dpeth information may be sent to museumlearning@usscm.org.
The Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, and National Park Visitor Center are accessible. The ships, USS Cassin Young and USS Constitution, have very limited accessibility. Please see below for further information about visiting USS Constitution.
Parking Information
The USS Constitution Museum does not have dedicated visitor parking. For this reason, we recommend using the Nautica Parking Garage for parking when visiting the Museum or Ship. The address for the Nautica Parking Garage is 88 Constitution Road, Boston, MA 02129. The Museum is able to offer validation for parking at the Nautica Parking Garage.
Handicap parking is available for visitors with approved disability parking placards or license plates. Please inquire regarding availability by calling the Museum’s Front Desk at 617-426-1812 ext.101.
USS Constitution
Visitors with service animals are authorized to tour the top (spar) deck of the Ship. Service animals must be on a leash or harness and under control of the owner at all times, or they will be asked to depart the Ship Non-service animals and pets are not allowed on board the ship.
USS Constitution Museum
Service animals are always welcome at the Museum. As defined by the ADA, a service animal is a dog that has been trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. For the safety of other visitors and museum collections, service animals must be under the control of the owner at all times. Pets and emotional support animals are not permitted in the Museum.
Maintained in its 1812-era configuration, access to USS Constitution is limited to visitors who can safely board the Ship’s top (spar) deck via ramp unassisted. Wheelchairs are only allowed to board during favorable tide conditions as the ramp can become too steep; otherwise, wheelchairs, walkers, scooters, and strollers are not allowed on board and must be left on the pier while touring the ship. Access to the below decks requires climbing and descending steep ladder-like steps.
Please note that the Ship is operated separately from the Museum. The Ship’s procedures and guidelines are subject to the discretion of the United States Navy.
Building
The Museum’s two-floors of exhibits are physically accessible to walkers, wheelchairs, scooters, and strollers by use of an elevator on the first floor exhibit. Museum restrooms are located on the first floor of the Museum and a family restroom can be made available upon request at the Admission Desk. The Museum has a number of seating options available throughout the galleries, please see a staff member for more information on the locations of these amenities.
Wheelchairs
The Museum has a wheelchair available for checkout on a first-come, first-served basis. The wheelchair may be used both in the Museum and taken out into the Navy Yard. Upon arrival at the Museum, please see a staff member at the Admissions Desk for assistance.
Captioning
The introductory film “The Nation’s Ship”, the Battle Theater film, and the video interviews in the Today’s Crew exhibit are all captioned.
Quiet Places & Times
The quietest places in the museum are often the LEGO Shipyard exhibit in the Education Center and the Courtyard. Weekday mornings and the last opening hour of the day typically have the lowest visitor traffic during the week. The quietest months of the year are January and February (except for February school vacation week). The busiest time of the year is June through August.
Communication Book and Social Narrative
Our Communication Book helps visitors communicate their needs during a visit to the Museum. You may download a copy of the Communication Book before your visit.
For information about what to expect during a visit to the Museum, download our Social Narrative, “My Visit to the USS Constitution Museum.” It is suitable for all ages and abilities.
Copies of our Communication Book and Social Narrative are also available to borrow from the Admissions Desk.
Sensory Sea Bags
Sensory Sea Bags are available for use and may be checked out from the Admissions Desk on a first-come, first-served basis. Sensory Sea Bags include the following access and sensory resources:
- Copies of our Communication Book and Social Narrative
- Noise-reducing headphones
- A weighted shoulder wrap
- Sunglasses
- A magnifying glass
- Fidgets
Sensory-Friendly Sundays
2nd Sunday of the Month, October – May, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Join us for sensory-friendly mornings at the USS Constitution Museum! Learn about the incredible history of America’s Ship of State in a quieter setting, without loud sounds or flashing lights, and before we open to the public at 10:00 AM. Design a ship, furl a sail, and scrub the decks in our hands-on exhibits that are designed for sailors of all abilities and backgrounds.
This offering is open to visitors of all ages, as well as their friends, families, and caregivers. Registration is required and limited to 35 people. Register for the event here . Admission by donation.
