If you’re looking to add some of those unknown worlds to your day, check out our list of museums in the area. They are all within driving distance and offer a variety of topics that will enchant every member of the family.
(215) 574-0380
701 Arch StPhiladelphia, PA 19106 Directions Website
For over 35 years, the African American Museum in Philadelphia has been honoring the history, art and culture of African Americans. This museum is particularly notable as the first of its kind to be funded and built by a municipality. Explore the four galleries and auditorium to learn more about the AAMP’s three main themes: The African Diaspora, the Philadelphia Story and the Contemporary Narrative.
(215) 685-4830
15 S 7th StPhiladelphia, PA 19106 Directions Website
Discover the city’s past at the Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia, also known as the Philadelphia History Museum. More than just a collection of artifacts, the Atwater Kent Museum tells the elaborate story about the growth of the city as well as narratives about the people who lived in it.
(215) 448-1200
222 N 20th StPhiladelphia, PA 19103 Directions Website
Take a photo with one of the country’s founding fathers! No trip to Philadelphia is complete without seeing the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial, located in the Franklin Institute’s rotunda. This Pennsylvanian landmark and attraction honors Benjamin Franklin, Philadelphia’s most famous citizen, with a colossal 20-foot-tall statue made of white marble.
(215) 629-5801
239 Arch StPhiladelphia, PA 19106 Directions Website
Swing by one of the most visited tourist attractions: the Betsy Ross House. The carefully preserved and restored Georgian-style house was supposedly the home to Betsy Ross, sewer of the first American flag, and her first husband, John Ross, during the American Revolution. See history come to life as actors share stories and reenact scenes from this significant event.
(215) 561-8888
1214 Arch StPhiladelphia, PA 19107 Directions Website
Want to explore the city’s culture in a completely different way? Visit the Fabric Workshop & Museum to see how local, national and international artists are transforming their work through experimentation with new materials and media. This contemporary art museum features pieces done by artists-in-residence from across the globe.
(215) 685-4167
1 Fort Mifflin RdPhiladelphia, PA 19153 Directions Website
Visit Fort Mifflin and see one of the most unique historical sites in the US. Commissioned in 1771, this fort and its surrounding area played vital roles during the American Revolution and the Civil War. When Fort Mifflin was decommissioned in 1952, its 14 authentically restored buildings were opened to the public so they could see "The Fort that Saved America."
(215) 965-2305
520 Chestnut StPhiladelphia, PA 19106 Directions Website
Visit Independence Hall, the centerpiece of Independence National Historical Park, and the reason why Philadelphia is regarded as the Birthplace of America. In this building, the Declaration of Independence and the United State Constitution were debated, drafted and adopted. Tour the facility's exhibits and attractions and celebrate the legacy of the American dream.
(215) 413-8655
211 S Columbus BlvdPhiladelphia, PA 19106 Directions Website
While you may not sail the great blue seas, you can explore the history they played in Philadelphia’s development at the Independence Seaport Museum. A museum dedicated to the maritime history of Philadelphia, the Delaware Valley and Pennsylvania, the Independence Seaport Museum is suitably located along Penn’s Landing, the historic site where William Penn first docked when he arrived in America.
(215) 560-8564
19 S 22nd StPhiladelphia, PA 19103 Directions Website
Learn about the history of medicine at the Mütter Museum. This unique museum showcases a collection of attractions like medical oddities and artifacts, wax models, antique equipment and anatomical and pathological specimens. See the 200-year-old history of modern American medicine traced out before your very eyes, as well as current breakthroughs in the field.
(215) 409-6600
525 Arch StPhiladelphia, PA 19106 Directions Website
As you walk through Independence Mall, be sure to pop into the National Constitution Center to learn more about the birth of America. As the Birthplace of America, it is fitting that the nation’s first and only nonpartisan institution devoted to the Constitution is located in Philadelphia. The whole family can enjoy the time spent touring the attractions, multimedia exhibitions and watching live performances.
(215) 925-2800
321 Chestnut StPhiladelphia, PA 19195 Directions Website
Find out how precious and fragile democracy is when you enter the National Liberty Museum. This expansive eight-gallery museum is dedicated to preserving freedom and democracy by educating people about good character, civic responsibility and respect using 78 exhibits, 179 works of contemporary art and 2,000 stories of American heroes.
(215) 763-8100
2600 Benjamin Franklin PkwyPhiladelphia, PA 19130 Directions Website
Take in the marvelous works at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, one of the largest art museums in the country. Known as the Parthenon on the Parkway, this enormous museum features a quasi-Greek Revival design. Within its 200 galleries you can find over 225,000 objects showcasing the creative evolution of the Western world from the first century onwards.
(215) 763-8100
2151 Benjamin Franklin PkwyPhiladelphia, PA 19130 Directions Website
Fans of Auguste Rodin will not miss the Rodin Museum for the world. This famous French artist created works such as The Gates of Hell, the Burghers of Calais and The Thinker. In fact, the last piece greets visitors as they enter the courtyard. Enjoy the largest collection of the magnificent sculptor’s work seen outside of Paris!
(215) 448-1200
222 N 20th StPhiladelphia, PA 19103 Directions Website
Have fun learning about science and natural history as you explore the attractions at The Franklin Institute. One of the oldest centers of science education and development in the country, the Franklin Institute provides a variety of permanent and traveling exhibits that are sure to appeal to people of all ages and interests—from a giant walk-through heart to the interactive KidScience exhibit.
(215) 898-4000
3260 S StPhiladelphia, PA 19104 Directions Website
The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, referred to more commonly as simply the Penn Museum, was founded in 1887 and grew into one of the most internationally renowned education and research institutions dedicated to the understanding of cultural diversity. View some of the artifacts that have unlocked mysteries of the past and explore the worlds of other cultures found across the globe.
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