Rubin Museum of Art

Description

Checklist

Doors:  street-level, double-doors, entry, then single door
Number of floors:  7
Elevators:  2
Ramps:  **
Steps and staircases:  4 steps from admissions to lobby area
Width of aisles:  spacious
Places to sit:  benches throughout
Location of restrooms:  ***
Ease of entry and exit:  OK
Baby changing station:  no
Available food services:  Cafe Serai
Friendliness of staff:  pleasant
Notes:  * Parking must be found in one of the nearby garages (see website for details) or on the street.** If the four steps down from the admission level to the lobby area are a problem, ask at the desk for a lift to be put in place to help.*** Single-occupancy, handicapped-accessible restrooms are located on the first, third and fifth floors, as well as the lower level. Multi-stall, (non-handicappd-accessible) restrooms are located on the lower level.

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Time after a doctor appointment allowed me to visit The Rubin Museum of Art, “…an urban oasis that stimulates learning, promotes understanding, and inspires personal connections to the ideas, cultures, and art of the Himilayas, India, and neighboring regions.” (website)

The entrance is located on 17th Street, just off 7th Ave. As I walked towards it I remembered ads for Barney’s Men’s Store, saying  it was located on 17th St., and 7th Ave.  Anyone of a “certain age” who grew up in New York City probably remembers the ads.  I remembered the entrance as being on 7th Ave., so I did not give any further thought to the building itself.  After visiting this beautiful venue and doing some research I discovered that this was Barney’s! The building was remodeled as a museum, and the original spiral staircase became the centerpiece of the 25,000 square feet of exhibition space.  The Rubin “inspires visitors to make connections between contemporary life and the art and ideas of the Himilayas and neighboring regions…” (website)

The double-door, street-level entrance leads to the admission area.  There are two benches here. One must walk down four steps to the lobby area as well as the shop and cafe.  If steps are a problem one needs to ask for a ramp to be placed to help one get to the lower area.The circular staircase, reaching from the lobby all the way to the 6th floor and roof is the centerpiece of this space.  Take time to look up from the lobby and down from the 6th floor. Marble steps, with carpeted runners and chrome railings are beautiful!  Elevators go to every floor.  As the elevator doors open on each level, the staircase is the first thing you see.  Everything is located around it.  Benches in different places on each level make it easy to find a place to rest. Each level has a different exhibition.  Each is interesting and beautiful in its own way. “Sacred Spaces,” on the fourth floor even has a Tibean Buddhist Shrine Room!  I had a difficult time leaving one beautiful space to go on to the next.

The theater on the lower level has moveable chairs so that wheelchair and companion seating is easy.

Restrooms can be found on the first, third and fifth floors, as well as the theater level. The first, third and fifth floors have single-occupancy, handicapped-accessible restrooms.  The lower level has two single-occupancy, handicapped-accessible restrooms as well as multi-stall restrooms that do not have handicapped-accessibility.  There are no baby-changing facilities.

The first floor has a lovely gift-shop area, as well as “Cafe Serai,” a tranquil setting for a snack or meal  (see separate listing for more information). One can stop in here without museum admission, something I would definitely consider if I were in the neighborhood.  If entering the Cafe from the street there are four steps down. If steps are a problem, enter at the Museum’s main entrance to use the available ramp.

As always, we at Destination Accessible advise you to check a venue’s website, www.rubinmuseum.org, when planning a visit, to “know before you go.”

Location

Nearby