For nearly two centuries, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University has stood as a monument to curious minds — and, at least for the last few decades, a respite for parents of restless children.
So, when the museum closes its doors at the end of this month, Philadelphia families may be left with one less kid-friendly haven and dwindling options on where to spend a rainy afternoon at an accessible price.
An adult ticket (ages 13 and up) to the Academy of Natural Sciences runs $22, while admission for children older than 2 cost $18 and those under 2 get in for free. That’s cheaper, across all age groups, than the Franklin Institute or the Please Touch Museum, for example. And unlike an outdoor experience, like the Philadelphia Zoo or any of the city’s many parks, an enjoyable afternoon at the Academy of Natural Sciences didn’t depend on the weather.
There’s still time to see the full-scale dinosaurs, taxidermy, and live animals — the museum’s last day open to the public will be Sunday, Sept. 27. But here’s 10 post-Academy-era alternatives for families looking to spend an afternoon indoors at a similar price tag.
The Independence Seaport Museum may float the nautical nerd’s boat.
Located on the Delaware River waterfront, the museum tells the region’s history through its major river artery, with some 10,000 objects and a million documents chronicling the area’s long maritime history. The museum boasts one of the continent’s largest maritime art and artifact collections, which includes a chart from Benjamin Franklin, a sea chest from the Spanish-American War, and a passenger list from the Titanic.
Visitors can also explore the USS Olympia, a historic World War I cruiser and the world’s oldest floating steel warship. Self-guided tours of the Olympia are included in the general admission package; guided tours of the Becuna, a World War II submarine, are also available for an additional $10.
🕒 Daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. last entry at 4:30 p.m., 💵 $23+ for adults, $18+ ages 3-17,📍 211 S. Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106, 🌐 phillyseaport.org
Got a kid that really loves firetrucks? The Fireman’s Hall Museum might spark some joy.
The Hall, located in a renovated firehouse, is one of the nation’s premier fire museums. Visitors can see antique apparatuses, try on firefighter boots and coats, and steer a fire boat — all while learning about fire safety and important skills, like when to call 911.
Pretty fire, right?
🕒 Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 💵 Free,📍 147 N. Second St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106, 🌐 firemanshallmuseum.org
Worldly cultures converge in University City .
The Penn Museum connects humanity across continents and millennia through archaeology and anthropology, cultivating “endless exploration,” according to its website.
The Inquirer previously reported that the Penn Museum’s 2018 renovation made the space more interactive and kid-oriented.
🕒 Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 💵 $23 for adults, $14 ages 6-17 and college students, free for children 5 and under,📍3260 South St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19104, 🌐 penn.museum
For those looking for a dinosaur fix in the post-Academy era, Wagner Free Institute of Science in North Philadelphia has a collection of Camarasaurus bones. The Wagner is a rare surviving 19th-century natural history museum with rocks, fossils, taxidermy, and skeletons galore.
Bone voyage!
Check out what other dinos are on display throughout the Philly region, here.
🕒 Tuesdays through Fridays, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and select Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m., 💵 Free,📍 1700 W. Montgomery Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19121, 🌐 wagnerfreeinstitute.org
An up-and-coming chemist might like learning all about the people behind the world’s most significant scientific achievements at the Science History Institute. On Saturdays, the institute hosts “Stories of Science,” an interactive family-geared program highlighting strange and surprising histories.
Also, currently running is a special exhibition on fireworks — kaboom!
🕒 Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 💵 Free,📍 315 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106, 🌐 sciencehistory.org
A staple — or stitch — in the Philadelphia experience is the home of Betsy Ross, a colonial woman credited with sewing America’s first flag. Visitors can meet Betsy and explore artifacts throughout her home, including her sewing table. In the home’s basement kitchen there are interactive activities for kids, a spokesperson said.
Outside the Betsy Ross House and around Old City, people can also visit Once Upon A Nation Storytelling Benches for short, free, delightful stories about Philly’s little-known history. The storytelling benches run throughout the summer and end this Labor Day weekend.
🕒 Daily, hours vary by season 💵 $15+ for adults, $13+ ages 6-12, free for children 5 and under,📍 239 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106, 🌐 historicphiladelphia.org/betsy-ross-house
Budding history buffs can dive deeper into the birth of the nation and ongoing American experiment at the Museum of the American Revolution. The museum’s kid-friendly programming includes a replica parlor, privy, and privateer ship, living historical interpreters, and theatrical reenactments. Through these exhibits — including those apt for Philly’s “revolutionary” Semiquincentennial summer — visitors can learn about the diverse people who influenced early American history.
The Museum of the American Revolution is also just a jaunt from Independence National Historic Park, where you can see historic iconography, like the Liberty Bell and exterior of Independence Hall, for free. (Tours of the interior of Independence Hall are ticketed.)
🕒 Daily, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., 💵 $25 for adults, $14 ages 6-17, free for children 5 and under,📍 101 S. Third St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106, 🌐 amrevmuseum.org
The African American Museum chronicles the Black experience in America from pre-colonial times to the present. The museum explores themes like the African diaspora, prominent Black Philadelphians, and contemporary narratives. In addition to its exhibits, the museum also hosts holiday festivals and a monthly Family Fun Day.
Of note: The museum will be closed to the public beginning Sept. 7, while new exhibitions are installed. Check with the museum for a reopening date.
🕒 Wednesdays, noon-5 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 💵 $20 for adults, $10 ages 4-12 and students,📍 701 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106, 🌐 aampmuseum.org
Admission to the Weitzman’s core exhibition, which traces nearly four centuries of Jewish American history, is always free. But for a limited time (Sept. 9 through Oct. 4) a ticketed gallery, “Colors of Creation,” a color-soaked journey through the origins of the world, will be offered at no cost.
“Colors of Creation” is a 26-minute interactive and immersive show, combining concert-style lighting, projections, and original music, as well as a time-unlimited playspace, a spokesperson said. The exhibit is geared toward young children, recommended for ages 3 and up, and their families.
🕒 Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 💵 Free general admission, ticketed special exhibits,📍101 S. Independence Mall E., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106, 🌐 theweitzman.org
South Philly’s American Swedish Historical Museum — the oldest Swedish museum in the United States — is located on lands that were once part of the New Sweden Colony. The museum now houses exhibits that explore that early relationship between Swedish culture and Philadelphia, Swedish contributions to the United States, and craft arts.
Monthly, the museum hosts “Toddler Time” for children ages 2 to 5. The hourlong programming includes “interactive stories, engaging hands-on activities and social interaction,” according to its website. The program is $5 for nonmembers.
🕒 Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., 💵 $15 for adults, $5 ages 5-11, free for children 5 and under,📍 1900 Pattison Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19145, 🌐 americanswedish.org
