Accessibility & Inclusion

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Wheelchair accessible parking west side of building, north of entrance and the south parking lot across Pepper Street also has spaces. The parking garage east of the museum is available to guests on the weekend only.

View Transport Options

We are located in Downtown Mesa where transportation options are Light Rail, the Downtown Buzz, local bus and Paratransit services.

Gallery Sensory Guides

Exploring our Galleries

All visitors must check in at the front desk. If someone in your group has difficulty waiting in line, the person paying admission may do so while others in the group enjoy the interesting items in the lobby. Additionally, if helpful, you may choose to bring fidgets, music headphones, or a manipulative toy.

Keep your dated admission receipt. Should you or a guest in your party need to leave at any time, for any reason, we would like to offer re-entry into our facility until 5PM or reschedule your visit for another day at no additional charge. Refunds. Should you or a guest in your party need to leave the facility within 30 minutes of arriving and cannot return, please know that we are happy to offer a refund. 

In the Lower level the Exploration Station has hands on fun with activities and books about paleontology, puzzles and tracing geared towards preschool interest level. All guests who would enjoy this space are welcome here.

Panning for gold in the Historic Courtyard, the Paleo Dig Pit (adjacent to the Courtyard), the jail cells, and other interactive puzzles and activities can be found throughout the museum.

Do not bring food or drink other than water bottles into the galleries. Also discouraged are items such as gum, markers, colored pencils, silly putty, and play dough.

The museum has bright and direct spot lights and florescent lighting throughout. Every half-hour, as part of the Dino Mountain flash flood, flashing strobe lights simulate lightning. The flashing lights last for approximately five minutes.

Light sensitivity glasses are available upon request. 

The location with highest sensory stimulation is Dino Mountain, especially during the thunderstorm that happens on the hour and half hour. A volcano exhibit is in the 75 million exhibit and can also provide a loud and physical shaking sensation. Additionally, the jail cells and Lost Dutchman Mine have echo feedback which can be loud and startling. The sensory guides hung throughout the museum will indicate how loud that area is. We have noise-cancelling headphones available for checkout at the front desk and in the exploration station on the basement floor. You are also welcomed to bring any items from home to support sensory needs.

You can find rest areas on each floor of the museum.  

Basement: Near the elevator and Collections Viewing Area.

Main floor: Mammal Hall and 75 Million BC have alcoves with seating. Mammal hall has a video playing with gentle music that relates to the gallery. 75 Million BC has room for three people on soft cushions with low noise and subdued lighting.

Second floor: Cultures of Ancient Americas gallery.  

The busiest time is typically 10 A.M. until noon and we generally have less visitors from 2 P.M. until closing.

The entrance and every floor of the museum is wheelchair and stroller accessible. The elevator is located directly south of the main lobby. All entrances are accessible. Wheelchair parking is just north of the main entrance and in the south parking lot. AZMNH galleries are fully accessible. The elevator is directly south of the main lobby and the ramp behind Dino Mountain can also be used.

Service animals, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), are welcome inside the museum and must be under full control of the handler at all times. A guest whose service animal poses a disturbance or threat to the safety of other guests and employees or is not housebroken may be asked to escort the animal off the premises.
 
Definition of a service animal
Service animals are working animals, not pets. As defined by the ADA, a service animal is a dog or miniature horse* that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. 
 
Emotional support, therapy, comfort, or animals that provide comfort just by being with a person are not considered service animals because they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task and will not be admitted to the museum. 

*Due to weight, size, and safety requirements necessary for the safe operations of the facility, some areas of the museum are inaccessible for a miniature horse.”

Bathrooms are located on every floor of the museum. The automatic flush on the toilet can be loud. Child changing stations are in all public restrooms (both Men & Women) in the museum. Some are located in the handicap stalls. There are two family bathrooms on the first floor.

Food and drink are allowed in the Main Lobby but not encouraged. No food or drink is allowed in the galleries. Drinking fountains are available on the first floor and basement levels. The museum store does sell water and candy. Below are links for additional parks and restaurants near our museum.

Some doors in the museum are emergency exits only and an alarm will go off if breached. Please keep your children within view. 

Consider taking a picture of your child the day of your trip for easy sharing and identification. Another idea is to give your child a sticker or a card with your contact cell phone number.

If your child should wander away from the exhibition area, the cell phone number will enable staff to be able to contact you immediately. Please keep the contact's cell phone ON.

Please come to the front desk with any additional safety concerns.

https://www.mesaparks.com/parks-facilities/parks

https://www.downtownmesa.com/dining

https://www.downtownmesa.com/