Accessibility

The National Park Service is committed to making facilities, programs, services, and employment accessible for visitors and employees with disabilities. Details can be found below about planning a trip to Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park with accessibility needs in mind. The park is continually striving to improve accessibility. If you have any questions about accessibility at the park, please call 603-675-2175.

 

 

NPS/Rob Strong

Navigating Buildings and Grounds

The visitor center is wheelchair-accessible and accessible parking is located nearby. Certain buildings and areas of the park are, unfortunately, not wheelchair-accessible including Aspet, Ravine Studio, Formal Gardens, Picture Gallery, and recreational tails. Maps of the park's historic core with suggested wheelchair routes, barriers, and non-wheelchair-accessible structures and areas are available at the visitor center.

Pathways around the park are found in a variety of surfaces including grass, brick, asphalt, bark mulch, cement, and gravel. Because of the park's historic nature, some of the pathways may be uneven and visitors should always take care when walking around the park.

A wheelchair is available to borrow for use within the park's historic core area on a first-come basis when the visitor center is open. It is designed to carry one person weighing less than 220 llbs and must be returned to the visitor center by 4:30pm. This wheelchair is not safe for riding on hiking trails, over steep inclines or steps, or during inclement weather. Park staff are available to discuss the terrain and provided recommended wheelchair routes. Visitors must present a form of ID which will be held until the wheelchair is returned.

 

Finding Parking

The primary parking lot is approximately 500 feet from the visitor center via slight uphill gravel path and paved driveway. Accessible parking is available near the visitor center. Follow signs or ask a ranger at the entry kiosk for directions. Visitors are also welcome to drop individuals with mobility concerns off near the visitor center.

Parking is available in the Lower Field when visiting for a Sunday Concert or other large special event. Several spots are reserved for visitors with accessibility needs. An electric, multi-passenger vehicle shuttles visitors to and from the parking lot to the concert area. There is an accessible restroom available directly adjacent to this lot. During the concert, the shuttle is stationed at the welcome tent and is available on request for transportation to the restrooms or the cars.

 

Experiencing the Art

Recorded audio descriptions of each of the large outdoor bronze sculptures are available for people who are blind or have low vision. These detailed videos with spoken narration descripe the important elements of each sculpture.

 

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  Adams Memorial

  A detailed audio description of the Adams Memorial by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, located on the grounds of Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park.

  Duration:

  1 minute, 12 seconds

 

• 

  Admiral Farragut Monument

  A detailed audio description of the Farragut Monument by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, located on the grounds of Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park.

  Duration:

  3 minutes, 17 seconds

 

• 

  Abraham Lincoln: The Man

  A detailed audio description of Abraham Lincoln: The Man ("The Standing Lincoln") by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, located on the grounds of Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park.

  Duration:

  1 minute, 40 seconds

 

• 

  Robert Gould Shaw and Massachusetts 54th Regiment Memorial

  A detailed audio description of the Robert Gould Shaw and Massachusetts 54th Regiment Memorial by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, located on the grounds of Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park.

  Duration:

  2 minutes, 18 seconds

 

Using the Park Brochure

Park brochures are available at the visitor center and parking lot. Audio files of described version of the park brochure are available for download. Open the files in your preferred mp3 player to listen to each section of the brochure. A text only version is also available.

These alternative formats of the park's brochure were produced in parnership between Harpers Ferry Center (HFC), University of Hawaii, American Council of the Blind, and this park to increase accessibility of park brochures for visitors who are blind or have low vision. The UniD Project provides audio described versions of NPS brochures that are made widely available through a free app for both Android and Apple smartphones. Over 100 park brochures are available and about thirty more are in the works.

 

Bringing Service Animals

Service animals are allowed in all park facilities and trails. National Park Service policy defines a service animal as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The tasks performed by the animal must be directly related to the person’s disability. Emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals are not considered service animals.

 

Obtaining an Access Pass

The America the Beautiful Lifetime Access Pass is issued to US citizens or permanent residents of any age that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability that severely limits one or more major life activities. This free entry pass is valid at National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, and Bureau of Reclamation sites.

Saint-Gaudens NHP honors and issues Access Passes to qualified individuals in-person with valid identification and documentation. Passes are issued Thursday through Monday, between Memorial Day weekend and October 31 or by appointment.