Accessibility at Fallingwater
For visitors with mobility, hearing or visual limitations, please be aware of the following site challenges as you plan your visit.
- There is considerable walking and standing involved. Fallingwater’s guided tours and self-guided experiences involve one mile of walking on gravel paths that include both uphill and downhill terrain. We recommend visitors wear closed-toe shoes with a rubber non-slip sole that provides both comfort and support.
- Non-motorized wheelchairs or motorized wheelchairs may be used on the gravel paths on the site; however, certain models of wheelchairs may have difficulty moving on our paths. A wheelchair with wide tires that is well-suited for our gravel paths is available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to reserve this wheelchair in advance of your visit, please contact the Visitor Services office at 724-329-8501.
- Visitors using non-motorized wheelchairs may visit the first floor of the house. Wheelchairs must be able to fit through a 27″ doorway to access the first floor. For visitors using motorized wheelchairs or non-motorized wheelchairs wider than 27”, a non-motorized wheelchair that is suitable for use in the house is available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note: this chair does not have hand rims; any visitor using this chair will need a companion to assist with moving the chair. If you would like to reserve this wheelchair in advance of your visit, please contact the Visitor Services office at 724-329-8501.
- Touring the house’s multiple levels requires climbing over 100 steps. For visitors unable to climb the stairs to the upper levels of the house, an accessibility tour is recommended for visitors with mobility and stamina limitations. It’s a great option for visitors who are wheelchair users or who have difficulty walking, standing, and/or climbing steps during a one-hour tour. The accessibility tour includes a guided tour of Fallingwater’s first floor, followed by a personalized, and guided tour of images of the upper floors and guest house. The accessibility tour includes an optional shuttle ride to and from the Visitor Center.
- Shuttle service to and from the house is available from the Visitors Center to the house and back for visitors with mobility challenges. Please ask a Fallingwater staff member for this service at any point during your visit.
- Fallingwater is not air-conditioned.
Hearing
- Assisted Listening Devices are provided at no charge for all visitors at this time, in order to ensure social distancing during tours. For those with profound hearing loss, we can arrange for a sign-language interpreter to conduct a tour at no extra charge. For scheduling purposes, we require a minimum advance notice of two weeks to arrange a sign-language interpreter.
Vision
- If you have a vision impairment, we can arrange for a more descriptive tour. Please make arrangements in advance when booking your tour, so that we may have a qualified guide available.
Service Animals
- In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Fallingwater welcomes trained service animals. Please review our service animal guidelines before visiting Fallingwater.
Oxygen Tanks
- For visitors that require the use of a mobile and portable oxygen delivery system while at Fallingwater, portable oxygen concentrators or small oxygen tanks that can be carried via bag or satchel with shoulder strap accessory are preferred. These carry-on oxygen delivery systems are permitted in all spaces during the Fallingwater tour. Any portable oxygen tanks supported by a wheeled cart will only be permitted on the first floor of the house. For those unable to tour the other areas of Fallingwater due to this restriction, a 3-D Video Tour is available at the Visitor Center.