Accessibility

• Visitor drop-off and pickup is allowed at the Museum's main entrance.
• There is one automated doorway (enter from the front plaza).
• Paid parking is available in the Museum garage.
• On each level, spaces near the elevator are designated for visitors with disabilities.
• Parking is sometimes allowed in the Museum driveway when designated spots in the garage are occupied.
• The ground level of the garage has a height clearance of 13’ 9”. Ramps to upper levels have a clearance of 7’ 4”.

• Science Park station is located on the E Branch of the Green Line. After exiting the station, the Museum will be diagonally across the street (O'Brien Highway), just over the Charles River Dam draw bridge.
• For detailed directions using Public Transportation, see the Public Transportation section of our Directions and Parking page.
• For more information about public transportation access, call the MBTA's Customer Support Line at 617-222-3200 or visit the MBTA's accessible services page.

The Museum of Science is equipped with an assistive listening system to assist visitors with hearing loss. This system amplifies the presentations at all of the Museum’s stages and theaters. Visitors can borrow a receiver and headset, or neck loop, at the Information Desk in the lobby. Equipment must be signed out.

The receivers work in the following locations:

• Mugar Omni Theater
• Charles Hayden Planetarium
• Cahners Theater
• Shapiro Family Science Live! Stage
• Gordon Current Science & Technology Center Stage

If you have questions, or would like more information about this system, please contact us at [email protected] or 617-723-2500.

Sighted guide tours are provided free of charge through AIRA Explorer, a live visual interpreting service for the blind and low vision community. Live interpreters convey key information through verbal communication, by audibly describing, reading, explaining, and navigating in real-time by viewing your surroundings through your device or phone camera. You can use the Aira Explorer web browser here or by downloading the app here.

The Museum's on-site garage provides hourly parking for approximately 850 cars on a first-come, first-served basis. Museum members receive a discount. Parking is available for visitors with disabilities. Height clearance for the entrance level of the garage is 13’ 9”. Clearance to access floors above the entrance level is 7'4". The entrance level of the garage can accommodate wheelchair lift vans. The garage has an elevator.

There are wheelchair accessible restrooms throughout the building. They can be found in the following locations:

• Box Office Concourse
• Blue Wing Level 1
• Green Wing Level 2
• Red Wing Lower Level
• Red Wing Level 1

There is an accessibility family restroom on Green Wing Level 2

Private adult changing facilities are available and include an adjustable height changing table. Request access at the Information Desk in the Lobby.

As part of the Museum of Science's commitment to environmental sustainability, single use plastic straws are no longer dispensed in the Riverview Café. The Museum of Science also recognizes that straws are necessary for some individuals, and straws will always be available, upon request, from any Café staff member.

For allergen information or questions regarding menu items in the Riverview Café, please contact our café managers: 617 589-3183

The following options are available for select IMAX films:

• Captioning
• Amplified narration
• Audio description

Receivers and headsets for assistive listening (amplified audio) and audio description (for visitors who are blind or low-vision) are available at the Information Desk in the lobby. A form of ID must be provided to borrow equipment. Captioning devices are available from Omni theater by Omni staff 10 minutes before showtime. For quicker service, make a request at the Museum box office when purchasing or picking up tickets. Wheelchair accessible seating is located at the top of the theater.

View Omni Shows

An assistive listening (amplified audio) system is available for all shows. The receivers and headsets are available at the Information Desk in the lobby. Scripts are available for select shows. Captioning is available for pre-recorded (not live) shows. Please request a caption device from a Planetarium staff member. Planetarium staff will also provide Braille constellation maps and tactile pictures on request. Wheelchair accessible seating is located throughout the Planetarium. 

Descriptive listening is available for Destination Mars: The New Frontier!

Closed captioning glasses (Xander Glasses) are available in English for all planetarium shows and Spanish for Destination Mars: The New Frontier and God, Science, and Our Search For Meaning

The first Sunday of every month at 10:30am is a showing of Big Birds Adventure, One World One Sky (soft light, soft sound) please click the link below for more information

View Planetarium Shows
View Big Bird's Adventure: One World, One Sky - Soft Light, Soft Sound

Available in the Museum lobby, the map / guide (PDF) contains a floor plan. A version of this guide is also available in several foreign languages and at the Information Desk.

The Museum has ten adult-sized manual wheelchairs, two pediatric wheelchairs, two bariatric wheelchairs, seven strollers, and five electric scooters (must be 18+ to operate an electric scooter) that guests may borrow for free. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

To sign out a wheelchair, stroller, or scooter, please speak to an information specialist at the Information Desk in the lobby.

Contact a staff member at the Information Desk.

Several defibrillators are located throughout the Museum of Science. Security personnel have been trained in their use.

ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation can be arranged with at least two weeks notice by emailing [email protected]