Accessible Past

An Accessible Past helps historic sites overcome barriers to accessibility by clarifying what historic sites must do in order to be legally compliant; in addition, this edited volume provides case studies of creative ways visitors can engage with the museum while retaining the historic integrity of the places and spaces in question. This book will help readers think outside the box when it comes to accessibility at historic sites, regardless of their size or budget.

This book is for practitioners and students in the fields of public history and museum studies.

Offers practical and low-cost ideas for increasing accessibility at historic sites, while retaining the historic integrity of the places and spaces in question.Provides an overview of legal obligations and ideas for making historic sites accessible.Demonstrates how, by being more accessible, historic sites and museums will be able to invite new audiences to their locations, strengthening the sustainability of these organizations and promoting the relevancy of history to more visitors than in the past.

Heather Pressman is an educator with a passion for accessibility and inclusion. Her background includes work in education, development, and communications. She currently serves as the Director of Learning & Engagement for the Molly Brown House Museum, one of the leading historic houses in terms of accessible programming.

Ms. Pressman has previously presented on museum accessibility at regional and national museum conferences, including AAM. She currently serves as a member of the organizing committee for the Art of Access Alliance in Denver, a consortium working to make Denver’s arts and cultural attractions accessible to all. In this role, she helps plan and organize workshops and symposia for staff and volunteers of Denver area cultural organizations. Prior to moving to Denver, Ms. Pressman was selected as a member of the Accessibility Learning Collaborative, established by the California Networks for Collaboration, a statewide project launched by the California Association of Museums.

She holds a Master’s degree in Museum Studies from The Johns Hopkins University. There, her studies focused on education, accessibility, and developing online communities. She recently co-authored The Art of Access: A Practical Guide for Museum Accessibility (2021), published by Rowman & Littlefield.