Where can I park when I visit?

There is limited free parking. Available spaces fill quickly, especially during the summer and over holidays. There are designated accessible spaces in front of the major museum; however, these are standard curb spaces on the left side of one-way streets.

Are there are accessible passenger loading zones?

Currently right in front of the museum.

Are service animals and power scooters allowed in the museum?

Absolutely, yes.

How do I request accommodation services for The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum programs?

If you would like to have a sign language, oral, or cued speech interpreter or Realtime captioning for an event, you should call at least two weeks in advance of the program you plan to attend. Call the organization sponsoring the program and tell the staff there what services you need. Be specific. For example, if you want an ASL interpreter rather than a PSE or Signed English interpreter, be sure to tell the staff that information. We do not have interpreters on our staff. We must hire them from agencies so need advance notice of requests.

If you want other accommodations, such as audio description, reader services, alternative formats of publications, assistive listening systems, or any other services, call the sponsoring organization and place your request at least two weeks before the event.

If you do not know which organization is sponsoring the program, contact the Accessibility Program at

Can I get an interpreter to just walk around the museums with me?

No. The The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum will provide interpreters only for scheduled tours or programs. Almost all of the exhibition videos are captioned or have scripts right near them; audio tours have scripts available. The exhibitions are accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

What are the TTY numbers that I can call?

Are wheelchairs available for loan or rent?

The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum have wheelchairs that can be borrowed, free of charge, for use within each facility. The wheelchairs, which are all manually operated, cannot be taken outside of the museum in which it is borrowed.

The wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To borrow a wheelchair, go to the museum's information center or desk and request a loaner. They may help you directly or send you to the nearby Security Desk. You will be asked to leave identification until you return the wheelchair.

If you want to rent a wheelchair for all-day use between museum we have a list of vendors in the area who can assist you. This list has been compiled from the Yellow Pages of the Washington phone book for your convenience. The list may not include all businesses that rent wheelchairs or reflect the current status of a business.

How do I get publications in alternative formats?

The Accessibility Program's Voices to Access 2000 project audio tapes The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum publications for use by people who cannot use standard print due to disability. To get a list of available publications or to request a specific The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum publication for recording, call

Other publications, including exhibit scripts, are available in braille, in large print, and on disk. Call the organization responsible for the publication to find out what formats are available. If you don't know the name of the organization, call the Accessibility Program at the numbers listed above.

Do the museums have unisex restrooms?

Yes. Three museums now have unisex or companion care restrooms (near the standard restrooms). Several more are planned for construction in various areas.

Does the museum have health units where I can change catheters or rest, due to my disability?

The The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum may be able to accommodate with this service. Call the Accessibility Program for information.