baldeagles.org

Yes. According to the American Bald Eagle Foundation, the entire facility is wheelchair accessible, accessible parking is available, and service dogs are welcome in both the museum and the raptor center. A wheelchair is also kept on hand for emergencies. If you need a multi-lingual museum guide, you can request one.

Accessibility Features at a Glance

Planning Your Visit Around Accessibility

The Foundation recommends allowing about an hour and a half for a visit, with a minimum of 45 minutes. If mobility is a consideration, that window gives you time to move through the aviary, museum exhibits, and raptor center without rushing.

Two practical points from the Foundation's visitor guidelines are worth noting if you use a wheelchair or service dog:

• Stay on the boardwalk when visiting the raptor center. This keeps you on the accessible route and away from enclosures.
• Do not touch the taxidermy, cases, or enclosures. This applies to all visitors, including those accompanied by service dogs.

Because service dogs are welcome but advance notice is appreciated, contacting the Foundation ahead of your visit is a reasonable step if you plan to bring one. The same applies if you need a multi-lingual guide, since that is arranged on request rather than provided by default.

A Note on Timing

The Foundation's posted hours state it is closed for the season and open by appointment only. That means accessibility arrangements — including confirming staff availability for a requested guide or giving notice about a service dog — should be sorted out as part of booking your appointment, not assumed on arrival. Check current hours and appointment availability before you go.

What This Means for You

If your main concern is physical access, the Foundation describes the whole facility as wheelchair accessible with accessible parking on site, so a standard visit should be workable. If you rely on a service dog or need a guide in a language other than English, plan ahead: both are accommodated, but one benefits from advance notice and the other must be requested.

baldeagles.org is the official website of the American Bald Eagle Foundation, a conservation and education organization founded in 1982 and opened to the public in 1984. The site serves two main purposes: it introduces the foundation's mission and history, and it gives visitors the practical information they need to plan a trip to its facility in Haines, Alaska — including the aviary, natural history museum, and live raptor center.

What the Organization Is

The foundation's stated mission is the conservation of the bald eagle and its habitat through education and stewardship. Its broader vision centers on biodiversity, with the goal of fostering appreciation and respect for the natural world so that guests become effective stewards themselves.

Key dates from the site's history section:

The facility now houses a flock of live raptors and more than 200 specimens in the museum.

What You Can Do on the Site

The site is organized around a few clear actions:

• Meet the birds — learn about the resident raptors.
• Visit the facility — tour the aviary, view exhibits, and shop in the gift store.
• Get involved — adopt a bird, join a program, volunteer, or make a donation.
• Learn about the organization — read about its history, board, and staff.

Planning a Visit

Admission (All-Day)

Prices include sales tax. Reservations are not required. The site recommends allowing about an hour and a half for a visit, with a minimum of 45 minutes.

Hours

The facility is closed for the season and currently open by appointment only. Check ahead before planning a trip, since the posted hours reflect a seasonal closure rather than regular daily operation.

Visitor Guidelines

• No food or drink in the aviary or museum.
• Stay on the boardwalk when visiting the raptor center.
• Do not touch the taxidermy, cases, or enclosures.
• Follow directions from foundation staff.

Accessibility

• Service dogs are welcome in both the museum and raptor center; advance notice is appreciated when possible.
• Multi-lingual museum guides are available on request.
• The entire facility is wheelchair accessible.
• A wheelchair is available for emergencies.
• Accessible parking is available.

Who This Site Is For

This site is most useful if you are planning a visit to the Haines facility, want to support the foundation through adoption, volunteering, or donations, or are looking for background on the organization's conservation and education work. If you only need general information about bald eagles as a species, the site is oriented more toward the foundation's programs and visitor experience than toward wildlife reference material.

All-day admission to the American Bald Eagle Foundation is $25 for adults, $15 for children ages 6–12, $15 for active military, and free for children 5 and under. Prices include sales tax, and reservations are not required. These rates apply to the Foundation's all-day admission as listed on its website; because the facility states it is currently "closed for the season" and "open by appointment only," confirm current opening status before planning a visit.

Admission Prices at a Glance

All prices include sales tax. No reservation is required to visit.

What the Admission Covers

The ticket is an all-day admission, giving access to the Foundation's facility, where visitors can:

• Tour the aviary and see the resident birds
• View the exhibits, including the natural history museum with over 200 specimens
• Shop in the gift store

The Foundation houses a flock of live raptors along with its museum collection, so a single admission covers both the raptor center and the museum exhibits.

How Long Should You Plan to Stay?

The Foundation recommends a visit of about 1.5 hours, with a minimum of 45 minutes. That range fits a self-guided walk through the aviary and museum plus time at the exhibits.

Hours and Access Notes

• Current status: The facility lists itself as closed for the season and open by appointment only, so check ahead before relying on walk-in admission.
• Accessibility: The entire facility is wheelchair accessible, accessible parking is available, and a wheelchair is kept on hand for emergencies. Service dogs are welcome in both the museum and raptor center, with advance notice appreciated.
• Guides: Multi-lingual museum guides are available upon request.

Visitor Guidelines to Know Before You Go

• Food and drink are not allowed in the aviary or museum.
• Stay on the boardwalk when visiting the raptor center.
• Do not touch the taxidermy, display cases, or enclosures.
• Follow directions from Foundation staff.

Practical Takeaways

• Budget $25 per adult and $15 per child 6–12 or active military member; children 5 and under enter free.
• No reservation is needed for admission itself, but the appointment-only status means you should verify the facility is receiving visitors on your date.
• Allow at least 45 minutes, ideally around 1.5 hours, to see the aviary, exhibits, and museum.

The American Bald Eagle Foundation (baldeagles.org) enforces four core visitor rules: no food or drink in the aviary or museum, stay on the boardwalk in the raptor center, don't touch taxidermy, cases, or enclosures, and follow staff directions. These apply to everyone touring the facility in Haines, Alaska, which houses live raptors and over 200 museum specimens. If you're planning a visit, the guidelines below tell you what to expect before you arrive.

The Four Visitor Guidelines

1. No food or drink in the aviary or museum

Leave snacks, drinks, and water bottles outside these two areas. This protects the resident birds and the preserved specimens on display. Plan to eat before or after your visit rather than during it.

2. Stay on the boardwalk in the raptor center

The raptor center holds live birds of prey. Visitors must remain on the designated boardwalk at all times — stepping off it puts you too close to the enclosures and can stress the animals.

3. Don't touch taxidermy, cases, or enclosures

The museum's 200+ specimens and the raptor enclosures are display and living spaces, not interactive exhibits. Keep hands off the glass, the mounts, and the birds' housing.

4. Follow staff directions

Foundation staff may give additional instructions during your visit. These take priority over anything else, so pay attention to what they tell you on site.

Other Practical Details for Your Visit

Accessibility Notes

• Service dogs are welcome in both the museum and the raptor center. Advance notice is appreciated when possible.
• Multi-lingual museum guides are available on request.
• The entire facility is wheelchair accessible, with accessible parking on site.
• A wheelchair is available for emergencies.

Quick Checklist Before You Go

• Leave food and drinks behind before entering the aviary or museum.
• Keep to the boardwalk around the live raptors.
• Don't touch specimens, display cases, or enclosures.
• Check ahead if you're visiting outside the standard season — the facility is currently open by appointment only.
• Call ahead if you need a multilingual guide or plan to bring a service dog.

The American Bald Eagle Foundation is currently closed for the season and open by appointment only. That means there are no standard daily walk-in hours right now — if you want to visit the aviary, museum, or raptor center, you need to arrange your visit in advance rather than showing up and expecting the doors to be open. Because "closed for the season" and "by appointment only" can change with the calendar, confirm current status directly with the foundation before you plan a trip.

What "Open by Appointment Only" Means for You

The foundation's own site lists its hours of operation as closed for the season, with visits available by appointment. Practically, this affects how you plan:

• No drop-in visits. You can't rely on arriving during a set window and being admitted.
• You must schedule ahead. Contact the foundation to request a time and confirm they can accommodate you.
• Availability may vary. Since appointments depend on staff and season, a time that works one week may not work the next.

If your trip depends on visiting, treat the appointment as the first thing you lock in — not the last.

Admission Prices (So You Can Budget)

Reservations aren't required for pricing purposes, but knowing the cost helps you decide whether to book. The foundation lists all-day admission as follows, and these prices include sales tax:

How Long to Plan For

The foundation recommends allowing about an hour and a half for a visit, with a minimum of 45 minutes. If you're booking an appointment, mention how much time you want so staff can slot you appropriately.

Visitor Guidelines to Follow

These rules apply once you're on site, and knowing them in advance avoids problems at the door:

• No food or drink in the aviary or museum.
• Stay on the boardwalk when visiting the raptor center.
• Don't touch the taxidermy, display cases, or enclosures.
• Follow staff directions during your visit.

Accessibility and Special Arrangements

• Service dogs are welcome in both the museum and raptor center; the foundation appreciates advanced notice when possible.
• Multi-lingual museum guides are available on request.
• The entire facility is wheelchair accessible, with accessible parking available and a wheelchair kept for emergencies.

If you need any of these accommodations, mention them when you book your appointment so they're ready.

What to Do Next

1. Check the foundation's website for any change in seasonal status before assuming you still need an appointment.
2. Contact the foundation to request an appointment and confirm a date and time.
3. State your needs up front — group size, accessibility accommodations, language guides, or service dog — so staff can prepare.
4. Plan around 45–90 minutes on site, plus time for the gift store if you want to shop.

The key takeaway: don't plan a visit around fixed hours right now. Confirm the appointment first, then build the rest of your trip around it.