Limited Mobility

The Henry Ford offers the following resources to those with limited mobility, or anyone interested in renting wheelchairs, scooters, strollers or wagons:

General Resources

  • Parking
      Accessible parking is available in the west parking lot near the Museum Welcome Center and Giant Screen Experience, and on Village Road by the Greenfield Village entrance. Be advised that on many weekends and on heavily visited days, these parking spaces fill up quickly.
  • Drop-Off Zones
      There are drop-off zones in front of Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation (Clocktower and Welcome Center entrances) as well as in front of the Greenfield Village ticket building.
  • Wheelchair & Scooter Rental

      Wheelchairs and a limited number of motorized scooters are available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis. We do not take advance reservations for wheelchairs or motorized scooters. Rentals are available in the Museum Welcome Center and Greenfield Village ticket building.

      Wheelchairs can be rented for $4.00 for the entire day, and scooters can be rented for $25.00 per day. Renters must complete a rental agreement form. Please note that on busy days (holidays, large/special events and summer weekends), the motorized scooters rent out quickly and may not be available. Guests must be 16 years of age or older and have a valid driver's license to operate motorized scooters. Maximum load capacity is 350 pounds. Motorized scooters rented at The Henry Ford cannot go on the Weiser Railroad in Greenfield Village.

      Please note that motorized scooters are not available to rent during Salute to America in Greenfield Village, Hallowe'en in Greenfield Village or Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village because of safety concerns.

      Complimentary wheelchairs are available at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour Visitor Center upon request. Motorized scooters are not available for rent at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour. However, Factory Tour buses can accommodate smaller-model personal motorized scooters.

      Personal motorized wheelchairs, electric scooters and wheelchairs are welcome in all venues. We do not allow bicycles, tricycles, recreational scooters, in-line skates or roller skates of any kind.

  • Children's Stroller & Wagon Rental

      Children's strollers are available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis for $5 per day in the Museum Welcome Center and Greenfield Village ticket building. Renters must leave a current driver's license at the renting desk. Please note that on busy days (holidays, large/special events and summer weekends), wagons rent out quickly and may not be available. Complimentary children's strollers are available at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour Visitor Center upon request.

      Personal children's strollers and small wagons are welcome in all venues.

  • Segway Usage

      The Henry Ford recognizes that some guests with mobility impairments use segways as mobility devices. As part of our commitment to making all reasonable efforts to ensure accessibility to guests with disabilities, individuals with mobility impairments are permitted to use segway devices. Individuals without mobility impairments are not permitted to operate segways at The Henry Ford. Segways must be brought by the guest; they are not available to rent. Segways must be operated in a manner that does not compromise the safety of the user, other guests or the infrastructure of buildings. Please contact us at accessibility@thehenryford.org if you have questions or will need to use a segway on your visit.



Venues

Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation

  • All public entrances to the museum are wheelchair accessible.
  • All exhibits in the museum are wheelchair accessible except for the following: interior of the Allegheny Locomotive cab (stairs; virtual tour available near stairway); interior of the Sperry-New Holland Combine cab (stairs); interior of the Rosa Parks Bus (stairs); and the Dymaxion House (narrow doorway).
  • All restroom locations in the museum are wheelchair accessible except for the location in the Davidson-Gerson Modern Glass Gallery hallway. Two companions care restrooms with adult changing tables are available in the front promenade of the museum.

Greenfield Village, Historic Rides & Playground

  • All public entrances to the village are wheelchair accessible.
  • All restroom locations in the village are wheelchair accessible. A family restroom is located in the Greenfield Village ticket building; both a family restroom and a companion care restroom with an adult changing table are available in Stand 44.
  • Sidewalks throughout the village were installed with accessible curbs, but care should be taken when crossing streets, as historic vehicles, antique bicycles and horse-drawn vehicles share our streets on a daily basis.
  • Railroad crossings are located near the entrance of the village and at Firestone Farm. Please approach the tracks cautiously; wheelchairs should cross the tracks at a 90-degree angle to prevent wheels from being caught and damaged.
  • Not all historic buildings can accommodate wheelchairs or electric scooters because of the physical limitations of the building (i.e., entrance steps, narrow doorways, stairs to second floors) or temporary constraints caused by ongoing conservation projects. Download a list of Greenfield Village Buildings with Limited Accessibility.
  • Access to historic rides in the village varies by type of vehicle:
    • Model T's, Omnibus Shuttle, 1931 Ford Model AA Bus and Herschell-Spillman Carousel require transfer from wheelchair, scooter or stroller to the seat of the vehicle.
    • The Weiser Railroad has a wheelchair or motorized scooter lift that is limited to 500 pounds. Motorized scooters rented in the village cannot fit on the train. Guests can transfer from their motorized scooter to the train and leave their scooter for pickup later.
  • The Donald F. Kosch Village Playground in the village is designed for the use and enjoyment of children of all abilities. Most of the activities are accessible from ground level or by ramp. There are varying sculptural swings so all children, whether fully abled or not, may enjoy them. Children of any age with special needs are welcome with an adult caregiver.

Ford Rouge Factory Tour

  • All public entrances to the factory tour are wheelchair accessible.
  • All restroom locations in the factory tour are wheelchair accessible.
  • All Ford Rouge Factory Tour buses are wheelchair accessible and can also accommodate smaller-model electric scooters. Complimentary wheelchairs are available at the Factory Tour Visitor Center upon request.
  • All exhibit areas and factory walkways are accessible.

Giant Screen Experience

  • All restroom locations in the theater are wheelchair accessible.
  • The theater has stadium seating that includes stairs upon entering or exiting. For those who are unable to climb stairs, an elevator is available. An employee or volunteer will accompany the guest and one companion to the elevator and into the theater. Please make inquiries upon arrival to any cashier, ticket attendant or theater usher. A limited number of spaces are held specifically for wheelchairs for our guests who wish to stay with, or who are unable to leave, their wheelchairs. Each of those spaces has a seat for a companion or aide.

Benson Ford Research Center

  • All public entrances to the research center are wheelchair accessible.
  • All restroom locations in the research center are wheelchair accessible.
  • All areas of the research center and reading library are wheelchair accessible. A public elevator is available for second-floor access.

Lovett Hall

  • All public entrances are wheelchair accessible.
  • Please note that the restroom on the first floor of Lovett Hall is not accessible.
  • An elevator is available for second-floor (ballroom) access. Please see a Henry Ford staff member for assistance with locating and using the elevator. The restroom on the second floor of Lovett Hall is accessible.