Address

180 Little Neck Road, Centerport, NY 11721

Phone Number

(631) 854- 5579

Date Visited

09/03/2014

Website

Link to Website

Vanderbilt Mansion, Museum, Planetarium

Description

There are multiple buildings at the Vanderbilt Museum, Mansion and Planetarium.

In addition to handicapped spaces in the main parking lot, there are handicapped spaces in front of each building.  Ask the guard at the gate before using these.

The walkways to the planetarium are brick, but are not continuous.  You must pass over sections made of large cobblestones.

The planetarium entrance consists of a manual double door.  Admission tickets to all buildings must be purchased here.  The theater has ample space for wheelchairs.

The restroom has a large handicapped accessible stall.

Only the first floor of the museum is wheelchair accessible.  There is no handicapped accessible bathroom.  The restrooms are down a flight of stairs.

Visitors with mobility issues need to know that there are steps in certain locations on the grounds and that the buildings are spread out.  There are some benches where one can stop and rest.

Checklist

    Surface of lot:  paved
    Distance to venue:  down a hill
    Transportation to venue offered:  na
    Terrain:  uneven
    Places to rest:  some
    Paths and walkways:  cobblestone and brick
    Doors:  double doors
    Elevators:  0
    Ramps:  0
    Steps and staircases:  staircase to lower level, mansion
    Width of aisles:  main floor is wheelchair accessible in mansion
    Places to sit:  yes
    Location of restrooms:  lower level in mansion, in lobby of planetarium
    Type of restroom:  not handicapped accessible in mansion, multi-stall, handicapped accessible in planetarium
    Ease of entry and exit:  OK
    Available food services:  none
    Friendliness of staff:  helpful
    Notes:  * Handicapped parking is also available in the courtyard in front of the mansion and directly in front of the planetarium (ask guard at main entrance). The Planetarium is completely handicapped accessible.

Read More

Our visit to the Vanderbilt Mansion, Museum, and Planetarium was our first official research outing for Destination Accessible.


This venue, overlooking Centerport Harbor on the north shore of Long Island, is a breathtaking location. The mansion, “Eagle’s Nest,” was built for William K. Vanderbilt II, beginning in 1910. If you love beautiful views and exquisite grounds you should plan a visit.


We drove into the paved parking lot, noting three handicapped spaces. There are separate buildings for each venue (mansion, planetarium, museum) all of which are accessible by paths from the upper parking lot. The walks are a combination of brick on the outside and large cobblestones down the middle. We noted that one must cross some of the cobblestones at various points to get to each building. Take note that there are hardly any benches, or places to rest when walking between venues. The planetarium has two handicapped spaces right outside the entrance. You can drive down to drop someone off at each building, if you talk to the security guard at the parking lot entrance.


The planetarium is the most easily accessible building. There is a handicapped accessible bathroom near the entrance which may be a bit tricky to navigate with a wheelchair. The handicapped stall is closest to the entrance. The planetarium itself has easily accessible seating. There is also a lovely garden just outside of this building with a picnic bench and view of the harbor below.


The Mansion is wheelchair accessible only on the first floor. Wheelchair bound visitors cannot take a mansion tour, but a video tour of the mansion and museum is available. There is a full flight of steps up to the second floor and down to the lower level where the bathrooms are located. Although handicapped parking is not designated in the courtyard outside the main entrance of the mansion, we were told that one can drive down and park there (with a handicapped permit of course).


The Marine Museum is undergoing renovation and is presently closed. We were told that it too is wheelchair accessible only on the main floor.


There is a rather long, steep, paved road down to the boathouse, which is also being restored and is presently closed. One is probably able to drive down here (with permission) as well.


All in all, this is a beautiful venue with magnificent vistas, to visit on a lovely day.


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



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