Nestled within the heart of Philadelphia, a hidden world of art, history, and wonder awaits within the walls of its museums. Step back in time to encounter artifacts and exhibits of the past, while also hearing stories of our ancestors, explore the evolution of our community, and witness the power of art and science. In this article, we will guide you through a curated selection of Philly’s most-loved museums.
2023 Happening List Winner for Museum: The Franklin Institute
222 N. 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 448-1200
Founded in honor of America’s first scientist, Benjamin Franklin, The Franklin Institute is one of the oldest and premier centers of science education and development in the country. Today, the Institute continues its dedication to public education and creating a passion for science by offering new and exciting access to science and technology in ways that would dazzle and delight its namesake. As the most visited museum in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a top-five tourist destination in the City of Philadelphia, The Franklin Institute is one of the leading science centers in the country, and serves as both a prominent educational and cultural resource, and as an anchor of the local economy.
More Museums in Philadelphia
The Please Touch Museum
4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 581-3181
With two floors of fun, engaging exhibits, children are empowered to pursue their curiosity and explore the wonder within their own imaginations. Visit the many exhibits, including the 3,650 food and family exhibit presented by GIANT, where kids can explore an immersive, open-ended learning landscape with three interconnected zones: a shopping market, a home and industrial kitchen, and a neighborhood festival area.
The Mutter Museum
19 S. 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 563-3737
The Mutter Museum is America’s finest museum of medical history. It displays beautifully preserved collections of anatomical specimens, models, and medical instruments in a nineteenth-century “cabinet-museum” setting. The goal of the museum is to help visitors understand the mysteries and beauty of the human body and appreciate the history of diagnosis and treatment of disease.
The Rosenbach
2008-2010 Delancey Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 732-1600
The Rosenbach creates programs and exhibitions inspired by a collection of nearly 400,000 rare books, manuscripts, and fine and decorative arts objects, including some of the best-known literary and historical objects in the world. The Rosenbach’s programs – from Reading Courses to literary cocktail parties – serve people from around the corner and around the globe.
Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 299-1000
The Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University is the oldest natural history museum in the Americas and one of the country’s leading scientific institutions, with over 200 years of experience in curation, cutting-edge research, and education. The Academy has more than 19 million specimens, all carefully documented and well-preserved for future generations.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 763-8100
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is an art museum originally chartered in 1876 for the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. The main museum building was completed in 1928 on Fairmount, a hill located at the northwest end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at Eakins Oval.
African American Museum in Philadelphia
701 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 574-0380
Founded in 1976 in celebration of the nation’s Bicentennial, the African American Museum in Philadelphia is the first institution funded and built by a major municipality to preserve, interpret, and exhibit the heritage of African Americans. Throughout its evolution, the museum has objectively interpreted and presented the achievements and aspirations of African Americans from pre-colonial times to the current day.
