The City of Brotherly Love is a hit with tourists who come to snap pictures at the Rocky Steps, City Hall, LOVE park, and the Liberty Bell, but visitors and locals alike would be remiss to skip our incredible museums.
Philadelphia boasts several museums throughout the city featuring amazing and complex exhibits that you just can not miss. Read below to learn about some of our favorites, and be sure to schedule a visit while you're in Philly!
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2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy / Website
Built in 1928 on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, this legendary art museum features works from artists all around the world. Marvel collections as varied as American Art, Contemporary Art, Costume and Textiles, East Asian Art, European Decorative Arts and Sculpture, European Painting, Prints, Drawings and Photographs, and South Asian Art. Admission is $25 for adults and free for folks 18 and younger.
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222 N 20th St. / Website
Named after Benjamin Franklin, the country's first prominent scientist and social leader, this museum was built in 1824 with a mission “to inspire a passion for learning about science and technology.” The Franklin Institute offers an ever-changing lineup of interactive exhibits sure to captivate curious minds young and old. There's even a planetarium and a science-based playground. Admission is $23 for adults and $19 for children aged 3 to 11 years old.
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19 S 22nd St. / Website
Are you or someone in your family an aspiring physician? Maybe you just think skeletons are cool? The Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia was founded in 1858 as the country's first museum of medical history. Curators hope to help visitors understand the "mysteries and beauty of the human body" while earning an appreciation for the history of diagnosis and disease treatment. The Mütter Museum is great for middle and high school kids with curious minds. Admission is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, $15 for children ages 6 to 17 years old, and free for children 5 years old and younger.
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101 S 3rd St. / Website
Founded in 2000, this patriotic institution lives to tell our nation's story, from its humble, revolutionary beginnings to today. The museum's website states its mission to uncover and share “compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government.” From artworks to interactive exhibits, virtual readings, at-home craft ideas and more, the Museum of the American Revolution keeps the spirit of progress alive. Admission is $21 for adults, $13 for children 6 to 17 years old, $18 for senior citizens, and free for children 5 years old and younger.
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525 Arch St. / Website
Located near Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center was founded in 2000 as a way to honor our country's most treasured document while giving space to learn about, debate and celebrate "the greatest vision of human freedom in history." The National Constitution Center offers live classes, virtual town halls and a plethora of educational resources and group gatherings to encourage Americans to take part in our living and breathing political system. Admission is $14.50 for adults, $13 for senior citizens, $11 for children 6 to 18 years old, and free for children 5 years old and younger.
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211 S Christopher Columbus Blvd. / Website
Located on Penn’s Landing across from the Delaware River, this museum was founded in 1961 and brings a bit of watery adventure to the local culture scene. Climb aboard the oldest floating steel warship in the world, aka the Cruiser Olympia, to get up-close-and-personal with the historic Delaware River, taking in exhibits that explore U.S. Naval history, maritime art, artifacts and more. You can even book a kayak adventure in the warmer months. Admission is $18 for adults, $14 for children, and $14 for senior citizens.
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1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. / Website
Located in Logan Square and founded in 1812, the Academy of Natural Sciences dedicated to an understanding of our natural world and inspiring care for Mother Earth in others. In 2011, the museum and Drexel University came together in affiliation, uniting two of Philadelphia's most respected research institutions, adding even more resources for learning, discovery and and civic engagement in the natural and environmental sciences. Admission is $22 for adults 13 years old and older, $18 for children 2 to 12 years old, free for children 2 years old and younger, and $19 for senior citizens.
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2027 Fairmount Ave. / Website
Located in Fairmount near the Philadelphia Museum of Art, this building was an active prison from 1829 to 1971. Today, guests can roam its halls freely, exploring the evolution of American criminal justice reform, from the nation’s founding through to the present day. The historic site offers Daytime Prison Tours and special spooky-season Halloween Nights with interactive haunted houses and walk-throughs.
Photography by: Chris Murray / Unsplash
