Accessibility at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site

Everyone is welcome at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, and we are committed to enabling all visitors to experience the historic place where the artist and environmentalist Thomas Cole (1801-1848) lived and worked. The 1839 Old Studio, and 1846 New Studio are wheelchair accessible. The first floor of the Main House is accessible by a lift. We provide printed and digital materials that describe and depict the second-floor experience. Additional information is provided below on accessibility services.

Wheelchair Access

Both the Old Studio and New Studio are wheelchair accessible. Only the first floor of the Main House is wheelchair accessible by a lift. The lift enables visitors to bypass a set of 11 steps leading to the first floor porch. The second floor is only accessed by two flights of stairs.

Also available online is 360 Explore,” through which visitors may view the Main House and Old Studio virtually with a personal smartphone, or from afar with a computer. A hands-free function is included.

The walking paths on the grounds are loose gravel. The parking lot is standard asphalt and includes a number of handicap spaces.

Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

The experience of visiting the Thomas Cole National Historic Site includes several multimedia displays, three of which include audio. Each is transcribed in printed hand-outs so that visitors can read what is being said.

Also available online is 360 Explore,” through which visitors may view the Main House and Old Studio virtually with a personal smartphone, or from afar with a computer. Texts are visually displayed.

 

Please feel free to reach out to info@thomascole.org or 518-943-7465 if you have any questions, and please check back for announcements on improving our accessibility.

Jennifer GreimThe Thomas Cole National Historic Site Accessibility