Accessibility

Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets online to expedite entry by receiving tickets in advance via email. If guests wish to apply a discount to their ticket purchase, they must do so at the Museum's admission desk.

Companion Ticket

The Museum offers complimentary admission to one companion providing support to a guest with a disability.

The Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with extended hours until 9:00 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Quieter Museum Hours

If you prefer a quieter Museum experience, we recommend visiting Monday through Thursday after 1:30 p.m. or on Wednesday evenings between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., when the Museum is typically less busy.

The Natural History Museum of Utah is located at 301 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108. For more information on driving directions, public transit, and parking, visit the Museum's directions page.

To help you prepare for your visit, download our Social Story to learn what to expect during your Museum experience.

For Field Trip Students

For General Visitors

The Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU) offers seven accessible parking spaces located on the upper level of the museum’s public parking lot. View a map here.

These spaces connect directly to a ramped pathway leading to the museum’s main entrance. The route from the accessible parking spaces to the entrance is approximately 356 feet and includes an incline.

Two of the seven spaces are van-accessible and provide additional side clearance for lift-equipped vehicles. For guests who need extra space or prefer curbside access, we recommend using the museum’s turnaround area for drop-off and pick-up. This area allows for safe and convenient unloading. The distance from the turnaround to the main entrance is approximately 150 feet.

All Museum entrances are accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. The turnaround also has a passenger drop-off area.

Restrooms are available on every level of the Museum, and wheelchair-accessible restrooms are located on each floor. All-gender restrooms are located on Levels 1, 2, 3, and 5. These restrooms provide a welcoming option for visitors of all gender identities and expressions, as well as those who require the assistance of a support person or are caring for small children. View our egress map here.

Infant Care Room 

An Infant Care Room is available on Level 2, next to the Museum Café. The room is furnished with an armchair, sink, changing table, and electrical outlet to support caregivers during their visit.

Descriptive Audio Tours

The Museum offers a descriptive English version of the Insider Stories Audio Tour free of charge at the Ticket Desk on Level 1. This complimentary audio tour is available to check out at the Ticket Desk on Level 1.

Aira Access

Aira is a visual interpreting service that provides access to trained agents for people who are blind or have low vision. This service is available at the museum for free through the Aira app, which can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. To use Aira: 

Open the app and register your phone number.

Select Sign in with Phone Number or Sign in with email. 

Enter the four-digit code sent via text or email.

Accept the terms and enable access to GPS, camera, and microphone.

Tap Call an Aira Agent. 

Additional Tools

The Museum offers additional accessibility resources for individuals and groups, including touchable specimens from the natural world. To request a Sensory Bag for a self-guided experience or to arrange a specialized program, please contact Echo Paixao by email or at 801-587-5721 in advance of your visit. We recommend submitting requests 2–4 weeks before your planned visit to allow time for coordination.

The Museum can provide transcripts or closed captions for select virtual programs. American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters and other sign language interpretation services may also be arranged for Museum visits, tours, public programs, and evening lectures.

To request these accommodations, please contact Echo Paixao by email or by phone at 801-587-5721. When making your request, please specify your preferred mode of communication (for example, American Sign Language, Pidgin Signed English, or Signed English). We recommend submitting accommodation requests 2–4 weeks before your visit to allow time for coordination.

Drinking Fountains

Wheelchair-accessible drinking fountains are conveniently located near the restrooms and elevators on Levels 1, 2, 3, and 5.

Dining

The Museum's Canyon Café  is located on Level 2 and is open to both Museum visitors and the general public—no Museum admission is required. The café offers a full espresso bar, hot and cold beverages, and a selection of sweet and savory food items. It is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and all dining areas are wheelchair accessible.

Guests may borrow noise-canceling headphones, light-sensitivity glasses, and fidget toys free of charge from the Tickets Desk on Level 1, subject to availability.

Sensory Bags

Each Sensory Bag contains tactile objects inspired by Utah's natural world and the Natural History Museum of Utah's collections and exhibitions. Designed for visitors who are blind or have low vision, the bag offers a self-guided tactile experience that complements our permanent exhibitions. Sensory Bags are available to check out free of charge from the Ticket Desk on Level 1, subject to availability. Read more about sensory bags. 

The Natural History Museum of Utah welcomes service animals that are individually trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability. Service animals are permitted in all public areas of the Museum. If safety considerations prevent a service animal from entering a collection or laboratory space, Museum staff will work with visitors to provide a reasonable accommodation whenever possible.

All Museum exhibitions are accessible to wheelchair users and visitors with strollers. Wheelchairs are available to borrow free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis and may be checked out at the Ticket Desk on Level 1. Please note that there is no ramp between Levels 4 and 5; guests using wheelchairs or other mobility devices should use the elevator to travel between these levels. View our egress map here.

The Museum endeavors to provide its visitors with disabilities equal access to its facilities, programs, services, and activities. Reasonable notice to provide an accommodation may be required. Please use this form to contact our Guest & Member Experience Team if you have any other special needs. (We recommend reaching out 1-2 weeks before your visit.)

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the University of Utah provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. The University's Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO) is charged with determining reasonable accommodations under the ADA and facilitating the provision of those accommodations for visitors to the University campus. If you would like to request an accommodation, you can submit a request to the OEO or contact them by phone at (801) 581-8365 or by email at oeo@utah.edu.