The Museum, Military Branch and State Capitol are accessible to people with physical disabilities.
Tennessee State Museum: All of the Museum’s public entrances are accessible to individuals with disabilities. There are elevators located near the Visitor Desk to take patrons to the exhibitions on the second floor. If you need a wheelchair, please put in your request at the Visitor Desk. Visitors with special needs should call 615-741-2692 during regular office hours (Mon.-Fri. between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.)
Military Branch: Access ramps to the War Memorial Plaza are located on both Union and Charlotte Avenue.
The State Capitol: Enter off of 600 Dr. Martin L King, Jr. Blvd. between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. The Motlow Tunnel entrance to the State Capitol on 600 Dr. Martin L King, Jr. Blvd. may be used by individuals who cannot climb the stairs to the west entrance. Visitors with special needs should call 615-741-1886 during regular office hours (Mon.-Fri. between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.)
Language Assistance Policy:
The State Museum is committed to providing programs for the educational and cultural enrichment of all our visitors and program participants. We respectfully request that individuals or groups who wish to request language assistance because of a limited ability to speak or understand English please contact the museum at least five (5) business days prior to the date of the requested museum program or service. Please follow this link for more information.
Service Animals:
Service dogs are welcome at the Tennessee State Museum. Therapy animals, emotional support animals, and companion animals are not considered service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act and are not permitted in the Museum.
Wheelchairs:
A limited number of wheelchairs are available to borrow at no cost. We have standard size wheelchairs and one large wheelchair with a 24 inch seat. Please see staff at the Information Desk to request a wheelchair. Borrowers will be asked to leave a form of ID during the period that the wheelchair is being used.
Seating:
Benches are situated throughout the galleries. Portable stools are also available to borrow free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis for indoor use. The stools weigh approximately 4-5 pounds/2-3 kg, and the weight limit is 270 pounds/122 kg. Borrowed stools should be returned to the floor stand, the stool trolley or to the Information Desk.
For those with vision loss:
Museum Visitor Guides in braille are provided free of charge at the Museum Visitor Desk.
For visitors who wish to take a self-guided tour of the State Capitol, there are also Visitor Guides in Braille provided free of charge at the Capitol Visitor Desk.
Large print visitor guides are also available free of charge at the Museum Visitor Desk.
Please return brochures to the Visitor Desk when finished.
We also offer accessible PDF files of the Museum's quarterly newsletter, available online here.
Children's Gallery American Sign Language (ASL) Storytime:
On every third Saturday of the month, Storytime in the Children's Gallery will feature an ASL Interpreter from our community partner, BRIDGES For the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Social Narrative:
