The ASL Tour is exclusive to visitors who are Deaf, hard of hearing, and their companions. 

Join us for an American Sign Language (ASL) tour of Made in America: The Industrial Photography of Christopher Payne. 

This exhibition brings together more than 70 large-format photographs captured by Christopher Payne over a decade-long photographic journey to learn more about the craft of both industrial and artisanal making in the United States. His images celebrate the combination of human skill and mechanical precision that transform raw materials into objects as diverse as pencils, semiconductors, pianos, and rockets. 

Following the tour, participants attend a lecture with photographer Christopher Payne, former New York Times photography editor Kathy Ryan, and bestselling author Rachel Slade for a wide-ranging conversation around Payne’s Made in America project to document industrial manufacturing across the United States. Learn more about the lecture happening after this program.  

Registration is required. The ASL Tour and subsequent program are free for visitors who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing and their companions. 

Learn more about upcoming ASL Tour programs.  

Accessibility and What to Expect

• Format: Tours involve navigating around the museum and standing in galleries for extended periods of time; standard manual wheelchairs, rollators, and portable stools are available for those who need them. There will be a 15-minute break after the ASL Tour before the lecture program begins.

• About this space: Gallery stools are available. The museum is fully wheelchair accessible. There is an accessible restroom on the ground floor. Read more about accessibility at Cooper Hewitt.

• Accommodations: ASL Interpreters will be available for the ASL Tour and subsequent lecture program. CART Captioning will also be available for the lecture program.  We welcome questions and accommodation requests that support your participation. Email us at CHAccess@si.edu or call 212.849.8384. Please make your request as far in advance as possible—preferably at least ten days before the program date.