Accessibility

The National Park Service strives to make all parks as universally accessible as possible for everyone to enjoy. At Fort McHenry, park buildings, exhibits, restrooms, trails, and parking lots are accessible by a variety of means, including ramps and open captioning. If a particular service is not listed below, please contact us.

Access Passes

U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities may be eligible for the 'America the Beautiful' Access Pass. The Access Pass provides access to, and use of, Federal recreation sites that charge an Entrance or Standard Amenity fee. The pass is free of charge, remains valid for the lifetime of the passholder, and grants admission to the passholder and three additional adult guests. Qualified individuals may obtain a pass at the Visitor and Education Center during normal hours of operation.

Service Animals

Service animals are permitted in all park buildings. For a definition of a service animal, please see the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) definition. Please note that pets whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA and are not permitted inside park buildings.

For more information on bringing non-service animal pets to the park, please visit the pets section of the website.

Park Brochure

A Braille introductory pamphlet is available at the Visitor and Education Center.

ASL Interpretation

American Sign Language interpretation is available by request. This service is free of charge. Please call 410-962-4290 or email us to make arrangements for an interpreter. Requests must be received no less than 14 days prior to your visit

Parking

The main and overflow parking lots are ADA accessible. Reserved ADA parking is available on a first come, first served basis. Parking at Fort McHenry is free.

Visitor Center, Orientation Film, and Exhibit

The Visitor and Education Center is ADA accessible. Seating is available inside the exhibit and film area. The museum exhibit area features a closed captioned orientation film that shows every 30 minutes. Interactive exhibits feature open captioning and audio narration.

Star Fort and Exhibit Areas

The Star Fort is accessible from the Visitor Contact Station via a paved pathway. Entrance to the Star Fort and buildings are ADA accessible. The interior of the Star Fort is mostly accessible. Some interior exhibits are voice narrated and activated by motion detectors.

Restrooms

Restrooms inside the Visitor and Education Center and Star Fort are ADA accessible. Family style restrooms are located inside the Visitor and Education Center.

Seawall Trail and Picnic Areas

The Seawall Trail is paved and ADA accessible. The lawns and picnic areas are also accessible.

National Parks: Accessible to Everyone

National Parks: Accessible to Everyone is the National Park Service's official page where visitors can find information, services, and resources available at national parks around the country.