The Traveling Wheelchair

NOAA – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
166 Water Street
Woods Hole, MA
Phone: 508-495-2000
http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/nefsc/aquarium/

Thursday of last week my roommate, Josh, our friends Kellie and Kevin, my Aunt Nancy and my Mom planned to go to Old Silver Beach. Due to rain we changed our mind and instead headed to Woods Hole Science Aquarium. Woods Hole Science Aquarium owned and operated by the Federal Government is the oldest research aquarium in the country! We were delighted to find it very wheelchair friendly and accessible.

Woods Hole Science Aquarium is open: June through August; Tuesday through Saturday; 11am to 4 pm and September through May; Monday through Friday; 11am to 4pm. It’s closed on Federal Holidays.

This aquarium has approximately 140 species of fish and invertebrates that are found in the local waters of the Northeast and Mid Atlantic states. I got to see all the fish I DREAM of catching every week when I fish with my Aunt Nancy. My Aunt Nancy and I were amazed there are so many different kinds of fish in our ocean waters YET we haven’t caught any :>)

The Aquarium’s website suggests all visitors use public transportation if possible because there is no parking available at the aquarium. Yet there are handicapped parking spaces in the parking lot for disabled visitors with a handicap placard. These parking spaces are close to the entrance which has a wheelchair accessible ramp.

The entry doors are not automatic so my friends opened the door for me. We were delighted to find ADMISSION is FREE!! Donations are accepted. The customer service counter where visitors sign in is too high so my aunt Nancy signed for all of us. The Aquarium offers assistance to persons with disabilities who require special assistance. So if you need help – just ask!

We toured the first floor. Many exhibits and fish tanks are easy to view while seated in my wheelchair; all are self explanatory with labels, pictures, signs and descriptions.

I enjoyed seeing all the beautiful fish in the tanks. I especially enjoyed seeing the Octopus in a large jar; the  wolf fish that is ugly but cute; and the  Atlantic Salmon  that is endangered in U.S. waters. My favorite was the Blue Lobsters which are extremely rare. I love lobsters and wondered I what a Blue Lobster would taste like :>)

After exiting the first floor we saw two seals located in a tank outside! An employee told us the aquarium usually holds seals that cannot be released for medical reasons.

 These seals are in a tank behind a fence. They are friendly, entertaining and easy to see from my wheelchair.

All Visitors are welcome upstairs for a behind-the-scenes look at the aquarium operations. Interns and aquarium staff are on hand to answer questions.  

There is no elevator to access the upstairs; you will need to go back outside; wheel up the ramp in the back; ring the doorbell; and an employee will let you in. Upstairs has touch tanks where you can touch sea stars, whelks, spider crabs, horseshoe crabs  and lobsters in the tanks.

The restrooms are spacious, wheelchair accessible and fully ADA compliant except the pipes aren’t covered under the accessible sinks.

I highly recommend all to visit Woods Hole Science Aquarium! It’s a great rainy day activity if you’re vacationing on the Cape. IT’S FREE, EDUCATIONAL AND FUN!!

I give Woods Hole Science Aquarium FOUR STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the Fifth Star, they would need to install an automatic entry door so a person in a wheelchair can enter independently; lower the customer service counter to a wheelchair accessible height; and place protective covering around the pipes under the accessible sinks in the restroom which is ADA required.