What Prevents Greater Accessibility at UNESCO World Heritage Sites?

The construction of the Acropolis of Athens, as we recognize it today, began in the latter half of the fifth century B.C. under the leadership of statesman Pericles, as Athenians celebrated their triumph over the Persians. The chosen location is a steep, rocky outcrop that rises 511 feet above sea level in the heart of Athens; Acropolis derives from the Ancient Greek words akron (highest point) and polis (city). Its inaccessibility during times of invasion and war was intentional.

Under Pericles, this rocky outcrop was transformed into a cultural complex, designed by renowned architects (Iktinos, Kallikrates, Mnesikles) and sculptors (Pheidias, Alkamenes, Agorakritos). Crafted from white marble, these monumental structures included the Propylaea (main entrance to the sacred area), the Parthenon (dedicated to Athena, the city's patron goddess), the Erechtheum (shrine for agricultural deities), and the Temple of Athena Nike (honoring Athena’s martial prowess). For nearly 25 centuries, these monuments have withstood numerous challenges, including wars, fires, earthquakes, and explosions.

The Acropolis has been an archaeological site since 1833, just a year after the modern Greek state was established. In 1987, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, praised for being a “supreme expression of the adaptation of architecture to a natural site” and an “outstanding example of an architectural ensemble reflecting significant historical phases.” Despite the wear of time, the authenticity and integrity of the Acropolis have been remarkably preserved.

Cory Lee, who navigates the world using a power wheelchair and operates the travel website Curb Free with Cory Lee, has traveled to 48 countries and all seven continents, riding camels in the Sahara Desert and paragliding in the Swiss Alps. However, until a few years ago, Lee couldn’t visit the Acropolis. An elevator installed for the 2004 Athens Olympics was often out of order, and the marble pathways at the summit of the site were uneven.

In 2021, a new elevator was installed on the northwest side of the Acropolis, designed to transport visitors to the top of the archaeological site. This elevator accommodates two wheelchair users and their companions, taking just 32 seconds to ascend at a 90-degree angle, all while providing panoramic views of the city. Upon arrival at the Acropolis, the elevator opens onto a newly upgraded gray concrete path, which has replaced an old cobbled walkway from the 1970s. This upgrade respects the underlying stones, as the cement was poured on a removable membrane, and the path was widened from 16 feet to 60. Architect Manolis Korres, overseeing restoration efforts at the Acropolis, mentioned that this expansion better reflects the path's width from 25 centuries ago, when thousands flocked to the site for major festivals.

"They were able to think creatively about accessibility," says Lee, diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at age two, who visited the Acropolis in June 2024. "Accessibility is definitely achievable if you're willing to innovate."

In Greece, this initiative sparked controversy. Over 3,500 historians signed a petition opposing the installation of the new pathways. Despoina Koutsoumba, then president of the Association of Greek Archaeologists, remarked, "To me, it’s horrible. The Acropolis feels wounded by these cement corridors. We have a site of immense archaeological significance, and we’re transforming it with cement into something entirely new. This is totally unacceptable." Her views were publicly challenged by others, including then Greek Culture and Sports Minister Lina Mendoni, who stated, "The image of the Acropolis represents the country. A monument, symbolizing Western civilization, must be accessible to everyone."

Lee, who highlights that 1 billion people globally live with disabilities, emphasizes the importance of these changes.

"Fifteen percent of the world's population requires some form of accessibility. While not all of them are wheelchair users, many individuals with disabilities need improved access like I do. If places wish to continue sharing their histories and preserving legacies, they must incorporate accessibility in some form," he asserts.

It can be argued that individuals with disabilities represent a minority that is, in reality, not a true minority. At some point, everyone may experience a disability, whether through aging or an accident. A more accessible world benefits everyone.

UNESCO’s World Heritage program was established in 1972 and has grown to become the world's leading cultural initiative. To qualify as a UNESCO World Heritage site, a nominated location must possess "outstanding universal value" and satisfy at least one of ten criteria within two categories: cultural and natural. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee, advised by an independent group of experts in history and education, is responsible for selecting sites, with the list being updated annually. (UNESCO has not responded to multiple requests for comments.)

As of June 2024, there are 1,199 UNESCO World Heritage sites across 168 countries. The majority (933) are cultural sites, while 227 are natural, and 39 are mixed, recognized for both cultural and natural significance. Italy leads the world with 59 UNESCO World Heritage sites, followed by China (57), Germany (52), France (52), Spain (50), India (42), and Mexico (35). The United States, alongside Japan and Iran, has 25.

Being designated a World Heritage site can bring significant benefits. Besides international recognition and increased tourism, this status allows a site to receive technical and financial support from the World Heritage Fund for its conservation, which is essential. However, broader questions have arisen: How universally significant are these monuments if not everyone has equal access to them? What strategies can enhance accessibility without compromising the site's heritage value?

Kelly Narowski holds master's degrees in both disability studies and psychology and is a professional speaker. A former corporate travel agent, she accomplished her goal of visiting 50 countries by the age of 50 in 2023. Narowski has explored 70 UNESCO World Heritage sites. "Most of these places are among the toughest and most challenging I've encountered," says Narowski, who relies on a wheelchair and is paralyzed from the chest down. "And I often couldn't navigate them on my own."

The responsibility for accessibility standards at UNESCO sites lies with individual countries; however, under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, nations must notify and seek approval before implementing "major" alterations to a monument. According to UNESCO’s 2023 operational guidelines, a minor change is one that "does not significantly impact the property's extent or its Outstanding Universal Value." The process for modifying historic sites often involves extensive bureaucratic hurdles, as seen with the Acropolis.

"In the realm of disability rights, we refer to this as ‘historic hysteria’—the belief that adding a ramp compromises the historical atmosphere," states Narowski. "If you want things to remain exactly as they were in the 1600s, fine. But does that mean we should forgo air-conditioning or plumbing? What about running water?"

In the United States, regulations differ significantly, largely due to the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. Narowski describes it as "the most comprehensive and impactful disability rights law globally, a law with real enforcement power." (She completed the ADA Coordinator Certification program in 2015.) Narowski notes that her recent Title III lawsuits to uphold the ADA have involved buildings over a century old.

Under the ADA, all public facilities must offer "reasonable" accommodations for individuals with disabilities, and modifications to historic structures are permitted as long as they adhere to ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) or Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS). If such modifications are impractical due to potential harm to a building's historic or architectural integrity, alternative accessibility must be ensured. According to disability design consultant Rosemarie Rossetti, PhD, we should aim for universal design—prioritizing thoughtful accessibility beyond mere compliance, by addressing issues like narrow hallways, high door thresholds, thick carpeting, low lighting, and uneven surfaces that can hinder mobility.

"Compliance is straightforward," remarks Rossetti, a member of the Board of Directors of the Global Universal Design Commission, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing universal design standards in architecture. "However, we are focusing on inclusion. Let's examine usability for everyone, irrespective of age or ability. We aim to enhance the environment's convenience, safety, and accessibility through its products and services." In other words: How can we create a more welcoming atmosphere for everyone?

Few American structures have captivated the public like those designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, whose groundbreaking concepts of organic architecture resulted in masterpieces like Fallingwater in Pennsylvania and the Guggenheim in New York City.

Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin—which means “shining brow” in Welsh—was constructed in 1911 on a hillside two and a half miles from Spring Green, Wisconsin, nestled among the rolling landscapes of the Midwest prairie. The architect expressed, “I understood that no house should merely sit on a hill or atop anything. It should be of the hill, intertwined with it. The hill and the home should coexist, each enhancing the other's existence.”

The entire estate, spanning 800 acres, featured a main house that included a living room, kitchen, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a sitting room, and a garden; a studio comprising a workroom and a small apartment; and a service wing with horse stalls, a garage, space for carriages and cows, and a milk room. After a former staff member set the living quarters ablaze in 1914, Wright reconstructed that section the same year and again after electrical damage in 1925. In 2019, it earned recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of eight significant works by Lloyd Wright, marking the first World Heritage designation for the United States in modern architecture. Although it remains largely unchanged, efforts have been made to enhance accessibility.

In 2024, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation completed a lengthy renovation of the Hillside Theater, originally opened in 1955, where Lloyd Wright once screened films for the public. The foundation installed an accessible pathway at the theater entrance. The restroom was updated to feature accessible doors and fixtures, and designated seating areas for wheelchair users were added at the foyer level. An accessible restroom was also installed in the theater's basement.

"A site like Taliesin—recognized enough to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage list—should be accessible to everyone," states Erin Crowley, visitor experience manager at Taliesin. "Our goal is to welcome as many visitors as possible to experience Taliesin."

While much of Taliesin's home cannot be modified, access to the house has improved. During accessible tours, guests drive from the visitor center to the rear of the building, entering through the kitchen via a movable ramp rather than the front door. Since all tour rooms in the residential wing are on a single level, wheelchair users can navigate the same path through the rooms as their able-bodied counterparts. All four public tours at Taliesin can accommodate accessibility needs with the use of movable metal ramps. Recently added railings and benches enhance the property’s usability.

For Marina Girch Spicer, who had to relearn to walk following a spinal cord injury at 21, these enhancements are crucial for visiting significant sites. Now able to walk unaided, she describes her gait and balance as "off." "Although I have traveled alone for work and flown solo, I experience good and bad days and hope for the best when I’m traveling alone," she explains. "Many places neglect to install railings on stairs. I understand the focus on aesthetics, but it poses a significant challenge for entering and exiting buildings. If there’s no railing, I often choose to avoid it altogether."

Taliesin is in the process of developing self-guided tours and aims to provide wheelchair-accessible shuttles to transport visitors from the center to the campus. While accessibility can always be enhanced, Taliesin is committed to this goal. Crowley states, "I believe we are making progress in the right direction."

The focus on accessibility at UNESCO World Heritage sites largely reflects a country's overall commitment to accessibility: the more it is integrated into the social fabric and human rights agenda, the less opposition there is to changes aimed at improving access.

A 2023 study by Valuable 500, a coalition of 500 companies dedicated to eradicating disability exclusion, recognized Singapore as one of the world's most accessible cities. For three decades, the nation has implemented a universal accessibility code, aiming for an inclusive society by 2030. Currently, over 95 percent of pedestrian pathways, taxi stands, and bus shelters in Singapore are wheelchair-friendly and accommodating to travelers with sensory disabilities. All public transport stations are barrier-free; disabled and elderly residents can use a card at pedestrian crossings to gain extra time for crossing. In recent years, the Building and Construction Authority has created an accessibility fund that co-finances up to 80 percent of the costs for essential accessibility features such as ramps, lifts, and accessible restrooms, encouraging the owners of heritage properties to undertake necessary upgrades.

The Singapore Botanic Gardens, founded in 1859, spans 82 hectares. In 2015, UNESCO designated it a World Heritage site, describing it as an “exceptional example of a British tropical botanic garden that has significantly advanced scientific understanding, particularly in tropical botany and horticulture.” It is the only tropical botanic garden on the World Heritage list and Singapore's sole site.

In November 2022, the botanic gardens introduced the HPL Canopy Link, a winding bridge that stretches 600 feet and is 8 feet wide, offering views of 30 bamboo species while connecting two major areas of the garden. The bridge reaches nearly 23 feet in height and—like many pathways—was constructed with specific finishes and gradients to “facilitate movement for wheelchair users,” according to Dennis Lim, coordinating director of visitor management and security at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The gardens are equipped with slopes, ramps, and elevators to ensure broad accessibility. Visitor centers lend wheelchairs, and the gardens’ website features maps to help users plan their visits. Lim also mentions that staff regularly receive training on accessibility and that visitor surveys are conducted to better grasp their needs.

While some areas of the garden still present challenges for wheelchair users due to the hilly landscape, further enhancements are on the horizon. According to Lim, these efforts are straightforward: “This [all] brings greenery closer to visitors and supports the gardens’ goal of connecting people with plants, fostering a deeper appreciation for Singapore’s natural heritage.”

In addition to investigating the accessibility of a UNESCO World Heritage site through its website or a country’s regulations independently, one of the most valuable resources is the community. Lee frequently shares his experiences at UNESCO sites on his website, while platforms like AccessNow enable users to provide tips and insights about searchable destinations.

Founded in 2018 by Alvaro Silberstein and Camilo Navarro Bustos, Wheel the World is a multi-service travel company that offers multi-day tours, group excursions, and information on accessible hotels and destinations. Similar to AccessNow, this company leverages crowdsourcing to compile accessibility data. In 2020, it became the first organization to provide wheelchair-accessible tours of the UNESCO World Heritage site Machu Picchu in Peru, and it continues to do so.

“It’s not that we made Machu Picchu accessible,” Silberstein explains. “Rather, we developed ways to help people reach a location that is quite difficult to access, utilizing guides, logistics, and specialized equipment.”

This might be the crucial element: recognizing conflicting pressures while carving a path forward, suggests Korydon Smith, professor and chair of the Department of Architecture at the University of Buffalo. Smith points to the balance between preservation goals and universal accessibility, along with the conflicts between building codes and traditional practices, as some of the many factors to consider in the pursuit of improved accessibility. World Heritage sites, which serve local communities and international visitors alike, must be particularly attentive to these challenges.

Smith, an authority on inclusive design, emphasizes the importance of viewing both inclusive design and historic preservation as evolving processes rather than static goals. He notes that much of the design and planning for buildings and cities has traditionally catered to those with economic and political clout. “Heritage sites often undergo restoration and transformation over decades; as new insights and methods arise, they must be integrated,” he says.

Silberstein echoed this sentiment during our conversation.

“People with disabilities were often viewed as incapable,” reflects Silberstein, who has been paralyzed from the chest down since he was 18. “There was a belief that ‘they’ should be separated from others. This mindset contributed to creating a world full of barriers, which is why we constructed so many inaccessible spaces. It was an ignorant perspective on humanity. We now realize that we were mistaken.”