Accessibility and easier access visits
Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site
Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site offers a variety of activities, programs and services for people with different interests, abilities and accessibility considerations.
Motherwell Homestead is a “living history” site, immersing visitors in the sights, sounds, and scents of an early 1900’s homestead.
Easier-to-access experiences
Start your trip at the Visitor Centre
The Visitor Center is open May to September and is the first stop on your visit to Motherwell Homestead. Helpful Parks Canada staff members can provide you with up-to-date information on events, programs, and much more!
- The Visitor Centre has a hard-packed gravel parking lot with a curb ramp in the sidewalk for wheelchair access.
- Parking is available 15 m from the Visitor Centre entrance.
- Hard-packed gravel paths 1.5 m wide connect the Visitor Centre to the grounds and historic buildings.
Explore the homestead
Explore the historic buildings, gardens, and barnyard while learning about Indigenous agricultural traditions, and homesteading practices that shaped farm life in the early 1900s.
- Hard-packed gravel paths 1.5 m wide connect the Visitor Centre to the 8.3-acre grounds and historic buildings.
- Some historic buildings have narrow doorways and raised thresholds, and do not have ramp access.
- For a quieter experience, visit in the morning on a sunny day.
Landscape and seasonality
Motherwell Homestead is located in a prairie environment. There is generally no snow from June to September but be prepared for rain or high temperatures in summer.
How to get around here
Walk: There are hard-packed gravel paths between the visitor centre and other key locations around the site. The paths are mostly flat, with limited elevation change.
Distance from the Visitor Centre (North entrance) to other points of interest
- Picnic area: 20 m
- Playground: 40 m
- Main vegetable garden: 20 m to south end
- Implement shed: 100 m
- Lanark Place (stone house): 170 m
- Barn: 185 m
- Hired men’s cottage: 230 m
- Tractor shed: 240 m
There are benches placed around the site to allow visitors to rest and enjoy the sites and sounds of the homestead.
Additional photos of pathway and grounds
Washrooms
Washrooms are located in the Visitor Centre.
- One accessible gender-neutral private washroom that includes a baby changing table.
- There are two multi-stalled gendered washrooms.
Consult Facilities and services for more information about washrooms.
Adaptive equipment for loan and access features
The following equipment is available for loan for free.
Battery-powered scooter
Two battery-powered scooters are available to borrow and use on site.
- Located at the Visitor Centre – ask for availability
Free entry for support persons
Parks Canada offers free admission and access to programs for support persons travelling with a visitor who has a disability and depends on the support person to travel and experience a Parks Canada destination.
Support people may be family members, friends or aides from an external organization.
Many people with disabilities are independent and may make use of assistance from travelling companions but are not dependent upon it, in which case regular fees are applied.
Contact us
We welcome you to contact us for help with accessibility when planning your trip and during your visit.
- Phone: 306-333-2116
- Email: lhnhomestead-motherwell-motherwellhomesteadnhs@pc.gc.ca
- Date modified :