AccessibilityHistory for All

The Stevens & Smith Center is located at:

13-15 East Vine Street
Lancaster, PA 17602

The Center is located near the intersection of East Vine Street and South Queen Street in downtown Lancaster City.

Accessible parking spaces are available at nearby public parking garages, including the Penn Square Garage and East King Street Garage. Visitors may also use passenger drop-off areas near our East Vine Street entrance to the Lancaster County Convention Center complex.

The main entrance of the Center is accessible from East Vine Street and through interior connections within the Lancaster County Convention Center and Marriott Hotel complex.

Visitors will find step-free access into the public museum spaces. There are four floors in the building, each of which is ramped for wheelchair access. An elevator provides access to each individual floor. Staff at Visitor Services are available to assist visitors who need any help navigating the Center.

Wheelchairs and other mobility devices are welcome throughout the Center.

All restrooms within the Stevens & Smith Center are single-occupancy, all-gender restrooms and are fully accessible. Restrooms are available on the main entrance floor and lowest level.

A baby changing station is available on the main entrance level and lowest level. LancasterHistory staff can assist visitors in locating the nearest restroom.

The Center welcomes visitors with sensory sensitivities and aims to provide a comfortable and inclusive environment. Galleries that include immersive media and audiovisual storytelling may feature sound, lighting effects, or projected media, which could be disruptive or stimulating.

To help visitors prepare for their experience, the Center may provide:

• Sensory guides describing gallery environments;
• Information about sound, lighting, and multimedia experiences;
• Recommendations for quieter visiting hours; and/or
• Sensory-sensitivity mode hours, during which audio-visual components may be muted or turned off (coming soon!).

Visitors who need a break from the galleries may speak with LancasterHistory staff to locate a quieter area within the building.

PLEASE NOTE: Not all of these options may be available during our soft opening in May. Please inquire for more information.

All exhibition videos and digital media presentations include closed captioning in English.

For select public programs, additional accessibility services may be available, including:

• Assistive listening devices
• American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation upon request

Visitors requesting ASL interpretation should contact the Center in advance to arrange services.

PLEASE NOTE: Not all of these options may be available during our soft opening in May. Please inquire for more information.

The Stevens and Smith Center aims to support visitors who are blind or have low vision through a variety of accessible experiences.

Available resources include:

• Tactile maps and braille exhibition introductions in each gallery;
• Touch interactives and braille descriptions;
• Edge-detection lighting on furniture and obstacles;
• Tactile floor strips noting ramps and elevation changes;
• Audio components integrated into exhibitions;
• Accessible guided tour experiences when available and by request; and
• Audio tour featuring verbal descriptions of exhibitions (coming soon!)

Visitors who would like assistance navigating the galleries may request help from LancasterHistory staff or volunteers.

Service animals are welcome in the Stevens & Smith Center! Service animals must remain under control of their handler at all times and follow ADA guidelines for service animal behavior in public spaces. Pets and/or emotional support animals are not permitted.

Yes! Visitors who require assistance from a personal care attendant are welcome to bring their attendant with them, free of charge. Tickets for personal attendants are available at Visitor Services upon inquiry.