As kids head back to school, it’s time for adults to check out some of the top campus tourist attractions. From first-rate art museums to a re-created ghost town, college campuses offer a bevy of accessible tourist attractions. Here’s a roundup of some of my favorites.

Art and Archaeology
First stop—the University of Missouri in Columbia (MU to the locals), where visitors can explore two excellent museums.

Located in historic Pickard Hall, the MU Museum of Art and Archeology features over 14,000 artifacts, including a collection of Greek and Roman casts, several galleries of ancient Mediterranean and West Asian works, and the Samuel H. Kress Collection of 14 Old Master paintings. Accessible parking is available on the east side of Pickard Hall and the accessible entrance is located in the rear.

Next door in Swallow Hall you'll find the equally impressive Museum of Anthropology, which features a permanent exhibition on Native American cultures, plus rotating exhibits focusing on cultures around the world. The museum features a ramped front entrance with barrier-free access throughout the galleries. Best of all, there’s no admission charge to either museum.

Texas Ghost Town
Not all college museums are located in the middle of the campus. For example the Spindletop, Gladys City Boomtown Museum is located at the remote intersection of University Drive and U.S. Highway 69 on Lamar University campus in Beaumont, Texas.

This re-created oil rush ghost town focuses on the history of the Texas oil boom and features 15 buildings typical of those found in the original Gladys City. Including are a saloon, a post office, a dry goods store, a barber shop, and of course a livery stable. The museum is staffed by knowledgeable docents and each building features artifacts from the boom days. For example, the barber shop, (which also served as the dentist’s office) includes an old barber chair and an assortment of antique dental tools, while the dry goods store features goods typically offered for sale at the beginning of the 20th Century.

Access is excellent throughout the complex with ramped or level access to the buildings, a level boardwalk around the town, and an accessible restroom near the post office. Admission is a very reasonable $3; although the attraction received minor damage in the recent hurricanes, most of the damage has been repaired and the museum is once again open for business.

Seeing Stars
Many colleges also feature excellent star gazing opportunities. For example, the Astronaut Memorial Planetarium & Observatory located on the campus of Brevard Community College in Cocoa, Florida features some great weekly star shows. There is level access to the planetarium, with lift access up to the second floor seating section. Shows are presented on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday and admission is a very reasonable $7.

Additionally, there’s no admission charge to the rooftop observatory, which can be accessed by an elevator. Be forewarned though, the observatory is only open on Friday and Saturday nights, so plan ahead!

Candy Harrington is the editor of Emerging Horizons and the author of 101 Accessible Vacations; Travel Ideas for Wheelers and Slow Walkers. She blogs regularly about accessible travel issues at http://www.BarrierFreeTravels.com.

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