The Guggenheim Museum

You would think that a building famous for ramps would be great for a person in a wheelchair.  The problem is, so much is ramped, you feel like you can never let go of the chair.  I kept imagining how hard it would be for a person who self-propelled to never let go of their wheels.

We entered on Fifth Avenue.  We have a Cool Culture pass, so we went to the member desk, bypassing the long line for tickets.  We took the very steep ramp to the second floor.  It was tough to push up, but we made it.  Most of the second floor is fairly flat, but there is gallery space up a few steps, with no ramp.  We parked the wheelchair and I helped our middle guy to walk up the steps and around the gallery.  He walks with assistance, so this is often our method for getting around museums, even when there are no steps.  This way he can direct what he wants to look at and for how long.

After that first ramp up, we took the elevator to the top and decided to make our way down the ramps instead.  The wait was long and we didn't fit on the first try, but we got there.  We later discovered another elevator bank in the extension building, but it was not operating when we were there.

As soon as we got up to the 6th floor, we needed the bathroom.  I then discovered that the only accessible bathrooms were on the 7th floor and in the basement.  Up another ramp and a long wait, for a single toilet.  In the Guggenheim's defense, every floor has one tiny unisex toilet with a long line.  They aren't discriminating, everyone has to wait.  Still the idea that the elevator didn't get our wheelchair to the floor with the accessible bathroom - not really ok.

Finally we were ready to see the art.  We walked down the big ramps and entered individual flat galleries around the edge.  When it was time to get a snack we headed to the cafe on 3 in the extension.  The counter height wasn't compliant and we found nowhere to sit once we bought our food.  No problem - we are good floor picnickers. 

Soon after we needed another bathroom break.  As the mom with a kid in a chair on the outside and a young kid on the inside, I ended up holding the bathroom door partially open while he went.  Luckily he isn't worried about privacy.

In summary - we would go back, preferably with another adult/parent, but we would not invite our other friends with wheelchairs who push themselves.