Historic Spaces
General Overview
Arts and culture organizations should consider many factors when designing accessible historic spaces. We recommend visiting the Physical Features, Sensory Features, and Care and Convenience Features sections of The Hub to learn more about accessibility requirements and best practices relevant to all spaces. We also recommend visiting other sections of the Hub geared towards specific services, communication, and programming. This section will cover accessibility considerations and best practices that are unique to historic sites — in particular, the challenges of striving for maximum accessibility while being mindful of historic preservation priorities. Arts and culture organizations can balance these concerns while increasing physical, programmatic, and communications access. The ideal is to work flexibly, creatively, and in partnership with both the disability community and the historic preservation community, as all stakeholders aspire to identify and implement solutions.
Implementation
When beginning to evaluate your historic site and its accessibility features or limitations, consider the following assessment tips:
- Review your site’s historical significance and character-defining features: This helps identify the significant elements that should be protected, as well as other elements that may be more readily changed, such as previous additions and alterations. Partner with preservation experts to ensure preservation requirements are observed while assessing accessibility compliance.
- Conduct an accessibility audit or self-assessment: Work with accessibility experts and user/experts to evaluate your organization’s current accessibility conditions and identify barriers to physical and programmatic access. (For more information, visit the Hub page on Self Evaluation and Transition Plans.)
- Develop an accessibility plan: Create a detailed plan addressing both physical and programmatic accessibility needs. Considerations may include:
- Establish clear timelines for tasks.
- Focus on prioritizing improvements that will have the greatest impact, both short- and long-term.
- Remember that accessibility encompasses many areas of your work, even when making physical accessibility improvements can be particularly challenging for historic sites. There are many programmatic and policy changes that can be made to mitigate some of these challenges.
- Ensure that you include experts and people with disabilities in the process of making plans and decisions about accessibility improvements and changes.
When integrating various physical accessibility considerations into your historic spaces, keep these steps in mind:
- Start with simpler, low-cost changes: Identify more readily-achievable and affordable improvements, like rearranging furniture to create accessible paths, modifying policies and procedures, or adding interpretive virtual programming, while larger and more complex projects are being planned.
- Make preservation-compatible modifications: Ensure that modifications respect the site’s historical integrity. As with other preservation work, changes should be reversible, in scale, use fitting materials, and be visually compatible but distinguishable.
- Coordinate with authorities: Any physical changes should satisfy legal accessibility standards, as well as the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. They may need to pass through various approvals, including from the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) or Historical Commission, the regional, state, city, or other local authorities. For example, installing a stair lift might meet ADA requirements, but not get approval from the SHPO, while creating a new ramped entry on a secondary elevation might satisfy both.
The programs, tours, exhibitions and events you host in your historic spaces should also be made accessible to all visitors. Some considerations include:
- Enhance interpretive materials: Provide accessible formats for signage and other interpretive materials, such as braille, audio guides, and captioned videos. Provide flexible formats for tours (such as a self-paced option).
- Create digital resources: Develop virtual tours or interactive programs for those unable to visit in person, using tools like 3-D tours for immersive experiences, which can supplement physical access.
- Offer programs in accessible areas: If certain parts of your site are not physically accessible, host programming (such as lectures, demonstrations, or other interactive activities) in accessible areas where you can also temporarily showcase parts of the collection that may otherwise be difficult for some visitors to access.
- Integrate disability history: Use your site’s platform to educate visitors about the history of disability, challenging ableist assumptions and enriching the site’s historical narrative by interpreting the stories and contributions of people with disabilities.
Embrace the spirit of ongoing self-evaluation, while also including the disability community in your area. Tips include:
- Engage with the disability community: Include individuals with disabilities and disability advocacy organizations in your evaluation processes, ensuring that your site’s accessibility features meet the needs and preferences of the disability community. Compensate these consultants for their time and expertise.
- Monitor and adjust plans: Continuously evaluate accessibility efforts by gathering feedback from staff and visitors with disabilities, and regularly update your accessibility plan to address new needs and comply with evolving standards.
Finally, you can engage the disability community (and individual visitors with disabilities) more effectively in your historic spaces, simply by being transparent about the offerings and drawbacks of your institutions. Ideas include:
- Provide accessibility information: Ensure that your website’s accessibility page includes detailed information about your site’s accessibility features (including physical access, programs, services, etc.). Be transparent about current limitations so that visitors can make informed decisions before attending. Include contact information of your accessibility coordinator or a staff member who can address questions and concerns.
- Provide staff training: Ensure that your staff receives appropriate accessibility training on a regular basis, so that they are well prepared to address requests, offer information, and manage grievances. Make sure your staff members are familiar with policies and procedures, accessibility features of your space, and any assistive technology, and communication practices. Encourage them to remain flexible, open, and willing to partner with the visitor to address unique needs and preferences.
Associated Legal Requirements or Obligations
Please note that, while this content was developed by people with expertise in the ADA and legal requirements related to access, it was created for informational purposes and should not be considered legal advice.
- 2010 Standards for Accessible Design
Alterations to historic properties must comply with accessibility standards unless it is determined that compliance would threaten or destroy the historic significance of the property. If full compliance is not feasible, alternative methods of access may be used. Section 202.5
- Accessible Routes: At least one accessible route must connect the accessible entrance with all accessible spaces and elements within the facility. Section 206
- Entrances: At least one accessible entrance is required. Exceptions are allowed if providing an accessible entrance would compromise the historic integrity of the building. Section 206
- Toilet and Bathing Facilities: Where provided, restrooms and bathing facilities must be accessible. Alterations must ensure compliance unless doing so would threaten or destroy the historic significance of the property. Section 213
- Signage must indicate accessible routes, entrances, and facilities and must comply with visibility and legibility standards. Section 703
Federal Buildings only follow the U.S. Access Board ABA Standards for Accessible Design
- Alterations – (§F202.5)
- Accessible Routes – (§F206)
- Entrances – s (§F206.4)
- Toilet and Bathing Facilities –(§F213)
- Signage – (§F216)
- Consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) or the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation may be required when planning accessibility improvements.
There is a common misconception that old or historic properties are exempt from compliance with Section 504 and the ADA, that they are “grandfathered”. This is not true and there is no such thing as a “grandfather” clause in 504 and ADA laws, regulations and standards for accessible design. Older buildings that pre-date the passage of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the1990 ADA must still do what is readily achievable to be accessible. See Safe Harbor.
If the building is listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under the National Historic Preservation Act, or are designated as historic under State or local law there may be different requirements and protocols to the approach to making them accessible. Be sure to read The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design Section 202.5 Alterations to Qualified Historic Buildings and Facilities and the advisory that goes with it.
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