08/12/2026
With the closing of Disability Pride Month, we would like to highlight Sarah Tredwell, the second youngest child of the Tredwell family. Sarah severely injured her back in an accident while she was in her late-30s. Because the Tredwells were wealthy, they were able to install an elevator to give her some mobility to four floors of the house.
By 1875, Sarah had left home to receive specialized medical care at an orthopedic clinic. She later lived in residential hotels, such as the Cadillac Hotel, where amenities, such as larger elevators, hallways and modern bathrooms, no doubt improved her overall quality of life.
Until the mid-19th century, those with physical or mental disabilities were often viewed as shameful and hidden away, either at home or, if the family could afford the expense, in a hospital or asylum.
Following the Civil War, however, when approximately 45,000 veterans returned home with amputations, it was no longer possible to ignore the needs of those who required mobility assistance. This led to an increased demand for specialized medical care, such as Sarah received, and resources for accessibility, in the form of wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, and elevators.
Visit the museum and see the elevator’s hand-operated wheel mechanism.
