FIND US / ACCESSIBILITY

Find Us:

The Monroe House serves as the Oberlin Heritage Center’s office and is located at 73 1/2 South Professor Street in Oberlin. Please note we are located in the middle of the block and we are not visible from the street.

FOR PARKING: OHC’s parking lot is located at 20 West Vine Street. Turn as if going to the Midas Muffler at the corner of Main Street (State Route 58) and Vine Street. The brick Monroe House, where our offices are and tours begin, is located at the end of the parking lot. Visitors can walk around the Monroe House fence to our front door.

NOTE: History walks may start in alternate locations. Please refer to your tour reservation or visit Guided Tours for information about tour start locations.

ACCESSIBILITY AND ADA INFORMATION

The Oberlin Heritage Center strives to ensure that all visitors feel welcome on the museum campus and may access high quality programming about Oberlin’s rich history. On this page you will find information about the accessibility of OHC buildings and current program offerings to help you plan your visit. Due to the historic nature of our buildings, some areas are not currently accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. In the coming years, OHC has committed to improving our ability to provide all visitors with an equitable experience.

If you have any questions related to the accessibility of programs or buildings, please contact the Museum Education & Tour Manager or call (440) 774-1700. We are happy to modify tours and/or make special arrangements if contacted ahead of time.

HISTORY WALKS

History Walks are accessible to visitors using wheelchairs and rollators, barring poor weather conditions. Most tours cover about 7/10 of a mile through downtown Oberlin and on Oberlin Heritage Center property, and they last between 75 and 90 minutes. Restrooms and seating are limited on history walks, and guests are encouraged to call ahead for details.

Visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing may have difficulty hearing the tour guide over background noise from the town and the streets, and may prefer to explore the historic downtown district or Oberlin’s abolitionist history through a self-guided tour.

TOURS OF THE MUSEUM

Please note that, at this time, some areas of the historic buildings are not wheelchair accessible. Visitors using wheelchairs can enter and tour the first floors of the Monroe House and the Jewett House, as well as the Little Red Schoolhouse, and most doorways in these buildings are at least 30” wide.

Visitors have a choice to tour OHC buildings as a guided or self-guided experience. The guided Oberlin Origins tour, which includes the Monroe House and the Little Red Schoolhouse, lasts around 45 minutes and involves walking a short distance between the buildings (approximately 335 feet total) and periods of standing. Visitors can expect a similar experience when touring the Jewett House. Seating is available in almost all rooms so that visitors may rest as needed.

If visitors are unable to climb stairs, docents can provide materials that illustrate architecture and furnishings of the upstairs areas.

For visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing, staff can provide written complements to the spoken components of the guided tours, and if requested, docents can wear a portable microphone to assist.

For visitors who are blind or have low vision, staff can provide some large print written materials to complement the tour, and docents are trained to describe objects throughout the museum to assist with a positive visitor experience. During the tour, especially in the Little Red Schoolhouse, hands-on experiences with historic artifacts can be provided.

SENSORY STORIES AND OTHER PROGRAMS FOR VISITORS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

OHC continues to add programs and tours to better serve interested audiences, and we welcome suggestions and requests for tailored programs and tours. If we do not currently offer an onsite program that meets your needs, we can also travel to your location with an Outreach Program.

SERVICE DOGS

Certified service animals or service animals-in-training are welcome in the museum when utilized for assisted care. For more information, see the Oberlin Heritage Center’s Policies on the Presence of Animals.

RESTROOMS

OHC has minimal restroom facilities (single-use occupancy) that are not fully accessible. We recommend that visitors plan to use the restroom before their visit.

Other Programs and Events

Events are held in wheelchair accessible spaces unless otherwise noted. Restrooms at most venues are gender-specific and visitors are welcome to use their preferred restroom. For any additional queries about accessibility information please contact the Executive Director or call (440) 774-1700.