The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is a fully accessible
space. Both the building and grounds are designed to facilitate the
Museum experience for the mobility, hearing, vision, and learning
impaired.
General Access Information
Elevators
Elevators are located in the north and south atria.
Additional elevators are located in the Leprino Family Atrium.
Elevator controls are marked in braille.
Emergency Procedures
The security staff is trained in emergency procedures and
will assist visitors with disabilities in evacuating the building
if necessary. The Security Desk is located near the main exit on
Level 1.
Entrances
A barrier-free entrance to the Museum is located at the
main (north) entrance. The doors are fully accessible with
push-button entry. A ground level elevator on the east side of
Phipps IMAX Theater is available after 5:30 p.m. and is push-button
accessible as well.
Information Desk
Wheelchairs and canes are available at no charge at the
desk on a first-come, first-served basis. Strollers are available
for $1. An ID is required as a deposit.
Parking
There are a number of spaces for those with disabilities
in the Main Parking Lot on the north side of the Museum, with an
additional two spaces on the east side of the building near the
Phipps IMAX Theater evening entrance. There are also multiple
spaces in the Underground Parking Garage, located on the northwest
side of the Museum. They are located on both levels, and some are
van accessible.
Phones
Phones located next to the main exit are wheelchair
accessible.
Professional Aides
If a visitor is accompanied by a professional aide, the
aide is admitted to the Museum, Phipps IMAX Theater, and Gates
Planetarium free of charge (one aide per visitor). To make a
reservation for a professional aide, please call Reservations at
303.370.6000.
Rest Rooms
Rest rooms and drinking fountains are located throughout
the Museum and are wheelchair accessible. A family rest room is
located inside the entrance to Gems & Minerals on Level 1. Most
rest rooms have baby changing stations.
Ricketson Auditorium
Ricketson Auditorium is fully accessible. Assisted
listening devices are available free of charge on a first-come,
first-served basis. Let an usher know of your request 20 minutes
prior to the start of an event.
Service Animals
Service animals are permitted throughout the Museum,
Phipps IMAX Theater, Gates Planetarium, and Ricketson
Auditorium.
Wheelchairs & Canes
Free wheelchairs and canes can be checked out from the
Information Desk with a valid form of ID.
Exhibitions & Programs Access Information
There are a number of exhibitions in the Museum that
contain components for the mobility, hearing, vision, and learning
impaired. Browse through the list below to find out which
exhibitions can make your visit more rewarding.
Accessible Exhibition Components
Gems & Minerals, Level 1
- See gems, gold, minerals, a sparkling crystal cave, and walk
through a mine tunnel
- Hear a description of the mine on the phone at the entrance and
realistic mine sounds in the tunnel
- Touch the rough rock walls as you walk through the mine
tunnel
- Touch and compare mineral specimens for weight and
hardness
- See and hear captioned videos that tell the story of the Alma
King, the world's largest gem-quality rhodochrosite crystal
Insects, Level 1
- See butterflies, moths, and other insects from Colorado and
around the world
- Touch large models that tell the story of the life cycle of a
butterfly
Edge of the Wild, Level 2
- See beautiful dioramas showing Colorado's large mammals in
natural settings
- Touch a bighorn sheep horn to count the rings and see how old
it is
- Touch skulls, bison fur, tracks, scat, antler velvet, jaws, and
teeth
- See captioned videos of animal behavior and wildlife management
issues
- Smell a deer's musk scent
- Touch the cushioned hooves of a bighorn sheep
- Hear a bull elk bugling and bison, mountain lion, prairie dog,
and mule deer calls
North American Indian Cultures, Level 2
- See and hear a video of Native American speakers welcoming you
to the exhibit in their native languages
- See and hear a video of northwest and coast peoples singing
during a totem pole raising ceremony
- See a video of Navajo rug weaving
- Touch and experience a real Navajo hogan
Egyptian Mummies, Level 3
- See and hear a captioned video about CAT-scanning one of the
mummies, a Museum collaboration with doctors at the University of
Colorado Health Sciences Center
- See what they found inside and learn about mummification in
ancient Egypt
Explore Colorado, Level 3
- Hear birds and other animal sounds
- Touch life-size sculptures of a bobcat and river otter
- See captioned natural history stories and play games on a
touch-screen computer
- Ample seating is available
Prehistoric Journey, Level 3
- See the development of life on Earth, told with amazing
fossils, from tiny trilobites to giant dinosaurs
- See and hear a captioned video about the beginning of life on
Earth
- Touch real fossils and casts of footprints, bones, shells,
plants, mammoth and mastodon teeth, skulls, fish shark skin,
ammonites, and a stegosaurus brain (subject to Touch Cart
availability)
- See captioned videos that show science in action and document
unusual life forms
- Hear realistic animal sounds as you walk through life-size
prehistoric environments
ASL Interpreters
American Sign Language interpreters are available free of charge
for all Museum programs and exhibits. Five business days notice is
strongly recommended because availability cannot be guaranteed.
Please call Cori Van Horn at 303.370.6405 or e-mail at [email protected].
Ricketson Auditorium
Ricketson Auditorium is fully accessible. Assisted listening
devices are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served
basis. Let an usher know of your request 20 minutes prior to the
start of the event.
Phipps IMAX® Theater Access Information
Phipps IMAX Theater is fully accessible, with wheelchair
seating, closed captioning, and assisted listening devices
available to visitors.
Wheelchair Seating
Phipps IMAX Theater can accommodate eight wheelchairs on
a first-come, first-served basis. Wheelchair access to the theater
during Museum hours is on Level 3 near the entrance to Prehistoric
Journey. Please wait by the sign for an usher to assist you into
the theater.
Evening Entry to Phipps IMAX Theater
In the evening, a fully accessible elevator is available
beginning at 5:30 p.m. It is located directly to the right of the
main IMAX entrance on the east (Colorado Boulevard) side of the
building. Proceed to the IMAX lobby level via the elevator and an
usher will escort you into the theater. Please note that access to
the theater is available only if you are accompanied by an
usher.
Closed Captioning
Films presented in the IMAX Theater are closed-captioned
using the state-of-the-art Rear Window system. Please request
closed captioning from an usher or box office attendant at least 20
minutes prior to show time. An ID is required as a deposit.
Assisted Listening Devices
Assisted Listening Devices are available free of charge
on a first-come, first-served basis for amplification and
descriptive narrative for certain films. Please call 303.370.6000
to check if it is offered for a specific film. If so, request these
devices from an usher or box office attendant at least 20 minutes
before show time. An ID is required as a deposit.
Gates Planetarium Access Information
Gates Planetarium is fully accessible, with wheelchair seating,
audio transcripts, and assisted listening devices available to
visitors.
Wheelchair Seating
Wheelchair seating is available at the top of the theater
as you enter Gates Planetarium. Four wheelchairs can be
accommodated for each show on a first-come, first-served
basis.
Assisted Listening Devices
Assisted Listening Devices are available free of charge
on a first-come, first-served basis for amplification. Request
these devices from an usher or box office attendant at least 20
minutes before show time. An ID is required as a deposit.
Closed Captioning
Films presented in Gates Planetarium are closed-captioned
using the state-of-the-art Rear Window system. Please request
closed captioning from an usher or box office attendant at least 20
minutes prior to show time. An ID is required as a deposit.
For any specific questions pertaining to accessibility at DMNS
please contact the DMNS Compliance Coordinator at: [email protected]
Section 504/ADA Grievance Procedure