Date: August 23, 2010
Contact: Merrith Baughman, 402-223-3514
Visitors that are blind or visually impaired can now experience the exhibits at Homestead National Monument of America in a better, deeper way. The indoor and outdoor exhibits at the Homestead Heritage Center plus the Palmer-Epard Cabin now include an audio description tour designed to deliver a verbal transcript of the exhibit text and a description of the exhibit's photographs and objects. To access the audio description visitors wear a handheld personal audio guide with headphones. As a visitor wearing a personal audio guide nears an exhibit the audio description is triggered.
This system is one of the most comprehensive systems in the National Park System and only system like it in Nebraska. When the Heritage Center opened in 2007, the goal was to make it fully accessible to all visitors. Homestead National Monument of America is the second national park in the U.S to install this kind of system. The first was the Indian Burial Grounds in New York City.
"We are very pleased to offer this service to our visitors," said Park Superintendent Mark Engler. "This is a world class facility and a system like this further makes it the place to tell the story of homesteading to all American's and our international visitors."
Remember, Homestead National Monument of America has an exciting schedule of events planned for this year. Keep up with the latest information by following us on Twitter (HomesteadNM) and Facebook (Homestead National Monument of America). You can also stop out to get a schedule of events. For information on the Monument's programs or activities, please call (402) 223-3514 or visit www.nps.gov/home .
Homestead National Monument of America is a unit of the National Park Service located four miles west of Beatrice, Nebraska. Current hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. Admission is free of charge. For additional information, please call 402-223-3514 or visit www.nps.gov/home .
