Accessibility at the DAM
The Denver Art Museum seeks to establish a safe, welcoming, and respectful environment that ensures the widest range of people will enjoy, learn from, and be inspired by their visit. We aim to support full access to museum spaces, exhibitions, and programs for visitors of all ages and abilities. The museum also offers a variety of services for visitors with disabilities. Scroll down to review our services and policies below.
If you have questions or feedback about accessibility at the museum, please contact us at access@denverartmuseum.org. Please send questions or feedback about the accessibility of our website to info@denverartmuseum.org.
Access Advisory Group
The DAM's Access Advisory Group (AAG) is comprised of individuals who can address the barriers faced in attending museums. The group consists of advocates for multiple disability communities who meet regularly to provide specific input on accessibility in the museum. The members are Denver-based individuals, businesses, and groups who either experience these barriers themselves, who have knowledge of these barriers in their roles as support workers, or who are working in the accessibility field. The AAG supports the DAM's initiatives to be transparent and accountable in the evolving practice of building a fully accessible and inclusive museum environment.
Getting to the Museum
The museum is located downtown at 100 W. 14th Avenue Parkway in Denver's Golden Triangle neighborhood. Elder and handicap drop off/pick up is available on 13th Avenue, between Broadway and Bannock. The main entrances to both buildings are equipped with power assist doors and all public areas are wheelchair accessible.
Accessible parking spaces are available on 13th Avenue south of Broadway Street (in front of the Denver Public Library) and on the second level of the Cultural Center Complex Garage on 12th Avenue and Broadway. Enter the garage from 12th and follow the signs to the northwest corner elevators.
Parking
Street and metered parking spaces are located within walking distance of the museum. Find a map with nearby parking options on Parkopedia.
Parking is also available at several lots in the area, including the Cultural Center Complex Garage at 12th Avenue and Broadway. Accessible parking spaces are located on the second level and electric vehicle charging stations are available on the third level. The garage is open from 4 am-11 pm and is operated by Denver Public Works, not the museum. If you have questions, please contact the Parking Manager at 303-640-1096.
Please be aware that as of September 2022, how you pay for parking in the Cultural Center Complex Garage has changed. Instead of a receiving a ticket when you enter, visitors pay using the PaybyPhone app (available from Apple’s App Store or Google Play) or by using the kiosk in the elevator lobby on level 1, near the Hamilton Building entrance.
Parking Steps for the Cultural Center Complex Garage:
- Drive in and find a spot
- Note license plate number
- Pay at kiosk or the PayByPhone app
Kiosk on Level 1:
- Press any button on machine
- Insert plate number
- Choose rate from list
- Insert credit card or cash
PayByPhone App:
- Download app and enter in license plate and payment information. This only needs to be done for the initial installation
- Once completed and insert location number 7201919 (also posted in garage)
- Choose length of time rate and press continue
- Once you have verified that is what you wish to purchase
- Press Pay & Park
Current rates*:
- Early Bird (in before 8 am and out by 6 pm): $9
- 1 hour: $2
- 2 hours: $4
- 4 hours: $8
- 6 hours: $12
- 8 hours: $16
- 12 hours: $20
Advertised event rates are posted at the entrance and vary from $5 to $12. Posted event rates supersedes hourly rates. Event parkers must exit the garage by 11:59 pm or incur additional parking fees. *Rates are subject to change without notice. Publicized rates posted at garage entrance supersede these rates. Cash and major credit cards (Visa and MasterCard) are accepted. Visit denver.gov for the more information.
Getting Here by Car
From the North: Drive south on I-25 to the Speer Boulevard exit. Turn left onto Speer and continue past Colfax Avenue, then turn left onto 14th Avenue. The museum is six blocks ahead. To park in the garage, continue for one block and turn right onto Broadway, then right onto 12th Avenue.
From the East: Head south on I-25 to the Speer Boulevard South exit (212). Continue on Speer Boulevard past Colfax Avenue, then turn left onto 14th Avenue. The museum is six blocks ahead. To park in the garage, continue for one block and turn right onto Broadway, then right onto 12th Avenue.
From the South: Drive north on I-25 to the Lincoln-Broadway exit (207). Go north on Lincoln and turn left at 12th Avenue. The Cultural Complex Garage is two blocks ahead, just past Broadway.
From the West: Driving east on I-70, take the US-6 East/West 6th Avenue exit (261). After several miles, US-6 freeway becomes a one-way street. Turn left onto Lincoln Street. You are now approaching from the south. Proceed to 12th Avenue and turn left to reach the parking garage, which is just past Broadway.
Getting Here by Public Transit
RTD and Light Rail
You can reach the museum from anywhere in the metro area via the Regional Transportation District (RTD). For more information, visit rtd-denver.com.
The Free MallRide
Park anywhere downtown and take the RTD’s Free MallRide to the museum.Get off at Cleveland Place, then walk south through Civic Center Park. For more information, visit downtowndenver.com.
Getting Here by Bike or Scooter
Bike Racks
There are bike racks on the museum plaza for you to lock up your bike or park a scooter. Remember to bring a secure bike lock. If you have a skateboard, you can check it at the front desk when you purchase your general admission ticket.
Scooters
Dockless scooters through services such as Lime, Lyft, and Uber are widely available in Denver.
Inside the Museum
If you will be accompanied by an aide or caregiver on your visit, we are able to provide them with a reduced rate. Please call visitor services during operating hours (10 am-5 pm daily) at 720-913-0130 to inquire.
Colorado resident SNAP cardholders can purchase $1 per person general admission for up to 10 people total when they show their valid Colorado SNAP debit card at the museum.
All restrooms are wheelchair accessible and can be found on every level of the Hamilton and Martin buildings. Single-user/family restrooms are available on level one of each building.
Visitors with Limited Mobility
Elevators are located throughout the museum.
Standard manual wheelchairs are available for visitors free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis at both the Hamilton Building and Martin Building welcome centers. Portable stools are available throughout the museum and can be used for seating in our galleries.
Visitors Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and CART captioning are available free of charge for any museum program or event with five business days' notice. To make a request, please email access@denverartmuseum.org.
Captioning, Audio Tours and Audio Transcripts:
Open captions or transcripts are available in English and Spanish for all exhibition videos.
Assisted listening devices:
Select special exhibitions have accompanying audio tours. Printed transcripts of these audio tours are near the exhibition entrance and available in Spanish and English. Please ask a Gallery Attendant for assistance.
Visitors with Vision Loss
Exhibition Access Guides:
Browse through our online exhibition access guides to view high quality images of artworks (with descriptive alt text) and all explanatory exhibition text. Guides are available in English and Spanish and are accessible by computer, smart phone, or tablet. A few printed copies are available outside the special exhibition entrance. Please ask a gallery attendant for assistance.
Verbal Description Audio Tours through Bloomberg Connects
Two audio tours written specifically for visitors with no or low vision are available on the Denver Art Museum's Bloomberg Connects app, which is free to download. Learn more about our digital guides.
Discover objects in the Martin Building that are rich with meaning, symbolism, and details, through the tour Verbal Description: Symbols & Stories. Visitors can also explore our world-renown Indigenous Arts of North America galleries through the tour Verbal Description: IANA Collection.
Visitors Who Are Neurodiverse
Sensory Tools:
Feeling overwhelmed during your visit? These sensory tools are available to checkout for free at either Visitor Services desk to use during your visit. Items are cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis.
Visor: For sensitivity to bright lights. Wear to block out any unsettling lights and feel a sense of privacy.
Colored Glasses: For headaches, light sensitivity, autism, or attention disorders. Help focus and process visual stimuli. Available in eight (8) colors and in youth and adult sizes.
Noise-Reducing Headphones: For noise and auditory sensitivities. Help reduce loud noises to support focus and shutout distractions. Available in youth and adult sizes.
Weighted Sensory Friends: For sensory processing challenges. Carry or wear around neck to promote focus, calm, and organization. Weighted snakes and weighted rainbows are available and each weigh 4-5 pounds.
S.P.A.R.K packs: A backpacked filled with sensory tools for on-the-go sensory needs. Items include visor, weighted lap pad, youth-sized noise-reducing headphones, wiggle seat, hand- operated fan, and fidgets.
Social Narrative:
Social narratives are visual and written guides describing various social interactions, situations, behaviors, skills, or concepts. Social narratives can be helpful for families with children with autism and sensory processing differences, first-time visitors, and others who prefer to prepare for new environments and situations.
Download a PDF version of My Visit to the Denver Art Museum in English or Spanish.
Sensory Friendly Mornings:
A program for kids with neurodiversity or sensory processing disorders and their families to visit the museum in a safe and fun way. The museum will open early, dim the lights, and provide tools to aid and guide a sensory-friendly experience for the whole family. Find an upcoming Sensory Friendly Morning by browsing our online calendar.
Visitors with Service Animals
Service animals, defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as guide dogs and miniature horses, are welcome at the museum. Pets and emotional support animals are not permitted inside the museum. If you have questions about this policy or need assistance planning your visit, please contact the museum at 720-913-0130 or email us at access@denverartmuseum.org.
Accessibility Guide
For more onsite accessibility information and visit tips, please browse through our accessibility guide.
Online Exhibition Guides
An online guide is available for select exhibitions, allowing visitors to take a closer look at the artworks and corresponding wall text. Look for a QR code inside the exhibition to load the guide onto your phone or browse online ahead of your visit.
Browse current and past online exhibition guides below.
Access Programs
We invite visitors of all ages and abilities to explore the Denver Art Museum in an inclusive and welcoming environment.
Art & About: Monthly tour designed for visitors with early-stage Alzheimer's or dementia and their care partners. Experience and discuss art together on a tour led by a specially trained guide on the second Thursday of the month. Themes change every month. Tour and general admission to the museum are free for registered participants, but space is limited. Email access@denverartmuseum.org to register.
Group Tours for Visitors with Disabilities: Led by a docent with special training in engaging visitors with disabilities, these tours explore the museum’s collection galleries and special exhibitions. Browse our current offerings and select a tour that best meets your needs.
Sensory-Friendly Mornings: A program for kids with neurodiversity or sensory processing disorders and their families to visit the museum in a safe and fun way. The museum will open early, dim the lights, and provide tools to aid and guide a sensory-friendly experience for the whole family.
Custom Access Tours: We provide adaptable and customizable tours to meet the needs of many different visitors and learning styles.
Find an upcoming program by viewing our online calendar.
Lifelong Learning and Accessibility programs are supported by the William Randolph Hearst Endowment for Education Programs, Nancy Benson Education Endowment Fund, CenturyLink Endowment, Jim Kelley and Amie Knox Education Endowment Fund, and the Cooke-Daniels Fund. Support is also provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, NextFifty Initiative, LinkAGES Colorado, the Michael and Karen Fried Community Education Fund, and the residents who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD).
