CAPE MAY MAC ACCESS STATEMENT
MAC is committed to making its programs accessible to as many individuals as possible. If you require assistance, please call 609-884-5404 in advance so we may accommodate you. New Jersey Relay Center for TTY customers, please call 711 (800-852-7899).
Accessibility by Attraction
At the current time, certain areas of MAC’s historic sites are not fully accessible to individuals with disabilities, due to architectural barriers inherent in the historic construction of the structures. The following is a description of access services available at MAC’s historic sites.
CAPE MAY LIGHTHOUSE
The Cape May Lighthouse is located off Lighthouse Avenue in Cape May Point State Park, Lower Township. The Lighthouse grounds contain the Lighthouse and the one-story Oil House, which contains a visitors orientation display and Museum Shop.
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Parking: The State Park offers accessible parking and a ramped platform near the ocean.
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Restrooms: Accessible restrooms are available at the State Park.
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The Lighthouse: The Lighthouse is a 157½ foot tall brick tower. Visitors may climb the 199 steps to the top of the tower for a view of the Cape. There is no ramp or alternative access to the tower.
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The Oil House: The Oil House has a ground level ramped entrance and is accessible to people using wheelchairs.
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Programmatic Access: The Oil House contains an orientation exhibit that includes a panoramic photograph of the view from the top and transcriptions of the exhibits in the lighthouse tower, including photographs. A brief video (approximately 10 minutes) describes the trip up the tower and restoration projects and is available on a personal DVD player by request.
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Braille transcriptions of the information contained in the Oil House orientation exhibit are available in the Oil House. These transcriptions may be borrowed from the Museum Shop cashier.
EMLEN PHYSICK ESTATE
The Emlen Physick Estate is located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May. The Carriage House Visitors Center, Gallery and Vintage restaurant are located on the Physick Estate grounds.
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Parking and Pathways: The pathways around the Estate are accessible, either covered with crushed clamshells or constructed of brick. There are two areas of accessible parking at the Estate. One is located adjacent to the accessible entrance to the Physick House (on the South, tennis courts, side of the building) and the other is located at the front of the main parking lot at the rear of the Estate.
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Ticket Sales: Tickets to the Physick Estate Tour and all other MAC tours and events can be purchased in person at the Carriage House Visitors Center, located in the accessible Carriage House.
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Restrooms: An accessible restroom is located in an outbuilding on the grounds (the cowshed, the second outbuilding behind the Carriage House).
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Carroll Gallery and Museum Shop: The Gallery and Shop are accessible.
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Vintage restaurant: Vintage is accessible. For reservations, call 609-224-6064.
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Physick House: The first floor of the Physick House Museum is accessible through the entrance on the South side of the house. Guided tours are available.
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Programmatic Access: A DVD tour and supplemental tour information is available for those who are unable to visit the second floor of the Physick House Museum. These materials are available at the Visitors Center in the Carriage House.
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A written transcript of the tour is available for use during the guided tour for people who are deaf or have a hearing disability. The transcript may be borrowed from the ticket seller before the tour and is returned to the guide when the tour is over.
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Sign language interpreted tours are available upon request. Reservations must be made in advance by calling the Group Tour Office at 609-224-6030.
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We are unable to accommodate dogs in strollers in the Physick House for safety reasons.
WORLD WAR II LOOKOUT TOWER
The World War II Lookout Tower is located on Sunset Boulevard near Sunset Beach, Lower Township. It was built in 1942 as part of Fort Miles, to defend the Delaware River and Bay during World War II.
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Parking: There is accessible parking across Sunset Boulevard from the Tower.
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Restrooms: There is an accessible Porta-Potty.
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The Tower: The Tower is constructed of concrete. Visitors reach the Tower by means of an accessible wooden walkway. Visitors may climb the 99 steps to the top of the tower for a view of the Cape. The ground floor is accessible but there is no ramp or alternative access to the upper floors.
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Programmatic Access: The wooden walkway leading to the Tower is flanked by display panels that tell the history of Fort Miles and the tower. A binder with transcriptions of the panels in the tower is available from the cashier. A DVD is available on a personal DVD player by request from the ticketseller.
Accessibility: Tours & Events
Access to MAC’s tours and events varies according to venue. Brochures are available in large print and Braille format or on disk. Please call 609-884-5404 for copies. TTY customers can use the New Jersey Relay Center at 800-852-7899 (if calling from New Jersey, dial 711) to order brochures or tickets.
TROLLEY TOURS
MAC offers a variety of trolley tours of Cape May and the surrounding area. Trolley tours are an excellent introduction to the city.
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Wheelchair Access: MAC has a trolley equipped with wheelchair lift, which has room to accommodate two visitors using wheelchairs. Reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance by calling 609-884-5404 (press 0). Advance reservations for groups may be made with the Group Tour Office (609-884-5404, extension 158).
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Programmatic Access: Sign language tours are available for groups of 20 or more. Advance reservations are required. Call the Group Tour Office (609-884-5404, extension 158).
WALKING TOURS
Walking Tours are the best way to see the town in an “up close” and personal way.
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Wheelchair Access: The walking tour route is accessible to visitors using wheelchairs.
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Programmatic Access: Sign language tours are available for groups of 20 or more. Advance reservations are required. Call the Group Tour Office (609-884-5404, extension 158).
CAPE MAY MUSIC FESTIVAL
The Cape May Music Festival is MAC’s premier performing arts event. The Festival features chamber music, orchestral music and world music.
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Wheelchair Access: All venues of the Cape May Music Festival are accessible. Accessible parking is also available adjacent to the venues and accessible restrooms are located in each building.
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Programmatic Access: Large print programs are available at all concerts. Audio and Braille programs can be supplied with two weeks notice. Assistive listening devices are available. Please call to reserve a headset.
Accessibility Around Town
MAC offers programs at various venues in the Cape May area.
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The Magnolia Room at the Chalfonte Hotel: Wheelchair Access: The Magnolia Room is accessible with adjacent accessible parking and an accessible restroom.
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The Inn of Cape May and Ocean 7 Restaurant: Wheelchair Access: There is a non-compliant ramp to the first floor of the hotel. Both rooms are accessible and there is an accessible restroom.
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The Blue Pig Restaurant and Harrison Conference Center at Congress Hall: Wheelchair Access: Both rooms are accessible through the main hotel entrance and there are accessible restrooms and parking spaces.
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Lucky Bones Restaurant: Wheelchair Access: The restaurant is accessible and there are accessible restrooms and parking spaces.
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The Merion Inn: Wheelchair Access: The restaurant is accessible and there are accessible parking spaces. There is no accessible restroom.
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Cape May Winery: Wheelchair Access: The first floor of the winery, including the processing area, is accessible with accessible restrooms and parking spaces.
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Hawk Haven Vineyard: Wheelchair Access: The winery is accessible with accessible restrooms and parking spaces.
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Cape May Brewery: Wheelchair Access: The brewery is accessible with accessible restrooms and parking spaces.
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Cape May Convention Hall: Wheelchair Access: The building is accessible with accessible restrooms and parking spaces.
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Willow Creek Winery: Wheelchair Access: The winery is accessible with accessible restrooms and parking spaces.
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Nauti Spirits Distillery; Wheelchair Access: The distillery is accessible with accessible restrooms and parking spaces.
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Cape May Methodist Church Hall: Wheelchair Access: The church hall is accessible with accessible restrooms and parking spaces.
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Cape May Lutheran Church Hall: Wheelchair Access: The church hall is accessible with accessible restrooms and parking spaces.
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Cape Island Baptist Church: Wheelchair Access: The sanctuary is accessible with accessible parking spaces. There are no accessible restrooms.
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First Presbyterian Church: Wheelchair Access: The sanctuary is accessible with accessible restrooms and parking spaces.
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Episcopal Church of the Advent: Wheelchair Access: The church is accessible with accessible restrooms and parking spaces.
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Lobster House Restaurant and Dock: Wheelchair access: Several of the dining rooms are accessible and there is accessible parking and restrooms. The dock is accessible through the entrance of the restaurant. It is a working commercial dock with cables, hoses and crates frequently on the dock. It is impossible to anticipate the conditions on the dock in advance of a tour, which may limit its accessibility at times.
Accessibility On Our Website
What is WCAG?
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a set of standards created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The W3C is an international community that develops regulations and recommendations for the internet to help ensure its longevity and usability. The W3C established the WCAG guidance to provide detailed guidelines for website owners, designers, and developers to create websites and digital content and markup through accessible approaches that work seamlessly with assistive technologies used by people with disabilities.
WCAG compliance is divided into three levels of success criteria:
- Level A
- Level AA
- Level AAA (the strictest standards)
The WCAG 1.0 guidelines were initially published in 1999, were updated in 2008 (WCAG 2.0) and, most recently, in 2018 (WCAG 2.1). As the internet evolves so quickly, the guidelines must be reviewed and revised continually. Each update strives to include the most recent technological advancements and more comprehensive guidelines.
Cape May MAC is committed to:
- maintaining an accessible website.
- ensuring that this website achieves “Level AA” conformance to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, to comply with the National Disability Authority’s Code of Practice on Accessibility of Public Services and Information Provided by Public Bodies. (The National Disability Authority’s Centre for Excellence in Universal Design has an introduction to policy and legislation relevant to Universal Design in Ireland.)
- ensuring that all new information on the website will achieve “Level AA” conformance to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0.
- including accessibility when we procure 3rd-party systems or upgrades to existing systems.
This website’s conformance with official accessibility guidelines
Our website is using the Accessibility plug-in by UserWay.
We welcome feedback on the accessibility of this website.
Email us at info@capemaymac.org
Phone us on 609-884-5404
Visit us at 1048 Washington St., Cape May NJ 08204