Arts and culture bloom in downtown Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne. So many beautiful buildings, old and new, have become more inclusive and disability friendly. A family could definitely spend an entire day or weekend perusing different entertainment venues.
Two such venues are the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory and the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. Both buildings are accessible friendly and allow for exploration in most if not all of the beautiful galleries and gardens.
The Fort Wayne Museum of Art entrance is zero threshold, and all the doors are automatic, including each gallery within the building. As you come in the entrance, there stands a huge glass table-like sculpture with a vibrantly colored sunflower inside of it. This piece was so illuminating and was just the perfect entrance.
Exhibitions include the Glass Wing, where each exhibit is at least three feet apart and easy to navigate in an electric scooter or wheelchair. Even the children’s gallery was very hand-on and an open space to play and explore.
Wheelchairs are available for visitors to use while within the building.
Next place to visit close by is the Foellinger - Freimann Botanical Conservatory. Parking for handicap was in front of Conjure Coffee attached to the entrance of the building. Inside, you'll find three beautiful gardens: Showcase, Tropical, and Desert. Outside there is more to explore and places to sit and thoroughly enjoy the outdoors in a lush garden setting. Throughout, you can discover over 2,000 plants, one hundred plant families of origin, and over 1,000 varieties of plants.
Gnome for the Holidays event inside the showcase garden is a whimsical wonderland with little hidden gnomes and their little homes disguised among the plants and tree stumps. $1 Night Light events feature Christmas lights at night for only $1 per person.
Many of the paths, both inside and out, do allow for wheelchairs, scooters, rollators, walkers, and strollers. However, some end at steps, and one will need to back track a bit to get to another location. Overall, the accessibility is prevalent in and throughout most areas.
Happy Holidays and enjoy exploring these fun and family-oriented locations in downtown Fort Wayne!
