Few cities can match the great wealth of Philadelphia’s museum scene. Home to historical figures, iconic landmarks and tons of American history, there are endless learning opportunities for families—both locals and tourists. That’s why we’ve rounded up 24 museums in Philly that your kids need to visit at least once, from historic landmarks like Independence Hall where the Founding Fathers laid the framework for our country to engaging science museums like the Franklin Institute and the Academy of Natural Sciences. Read on and start exploring!
1. Home to an extensive collection of manuscripts, rare books and literature, the Rosenbach Museum of the Free Library of Philadelphia is a must for little bookworms. Bring your preschooler on the last Thursday of every month for a (free!) story time that includes a miniature scavenger hunt thought the museum, a small craft and a snack.
2. A trip to Fairmount Park is simply not complete without a stop at the Please Touch Museum, the ultimate museum for all things play. Kids can spend an afternoon having a tea party and painting the roses red in Wonderland, “driving” a SEPTA bus or Phlash Trolley, or floating a boat down the river in River Adventures. Don’t worry about making a mess—the 38,000-square-foot museum is designed to be touched and explored by kids.
J. Fusco/Visit Philadelphia
3. Throw on a pair of boots and a coat, and put out the fire at the Fireman’s Hall Museum in Old City. Learn about fire-fighting over the past 300 years, and see a collection of 10 antique fire trucks that include both hand-drawn and horse-drawn vehicles.
4. Run up the famous Rocky steps into the country’s third largest art museum—the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Spend the afternoon getting lost among Monets and van Goghs, along with other collections of Renaissance, American, Impressionist and Modern art (we recommend the Arms and Armory Room, a sure hit with the kiddos!). Check the museum’s site for weekly family programming.
5. Your dino-lovers will love the Dinosaur Hall at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Logan Circle, which features more than 30 species of dinosaurs (including a fully constructed 30-foot Tyrannosaurus Rex!). While there, don’t forget to head over to the third floor to Outside In, a hands-on environmental section where the tiniest museum visitors can pet a live animal, watch a working bee hive, play in the sand or curl up and read a nature-themed book.
6. Be prepared to spend an entire afternoon at the Franklin Institute, the city’s museum dedicated to all things science. Kids can run through a larger-than-life model heart, climb through a two-story neural pathway, be the conductor in a real steam train or race the Phanatic in the new SportsZone! Other highlights include an IMAX theatre and planetarium, and don’t forget to snap a pic in front of the museum’s namesake at the entrance!
J. Fusco/Visit Philadelphia
7. Explore The Mummer’s Museum in South Philly and learn about the sights and sounds of the most unique New Year’s tradition in Philly. Loads of colorful and extravagant costumes are on display, and kids can create their own tune on a glockenspiel and learn how to do the Mummer Strut! Stop by on a Thursday evening during the summer for a performance from one of the city’s string bands.
8. Spend an afternoon in the Northeast at the Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion, home to one of the area’s largest collections of insects and arachnids. Those who are brave can pet a tarantula, hold a giant millipede or go scorpion hunting (bring your flashlight!). No visit is complete without walking into the newly created 7,000-square-foot butterfly pavilion, filled with more than 4,000 butterflies. Don’t forget to stop by the front desk and grab a copy of the museum’s scavenger hunt along with info for the day’s Critter Craft.
9. Learn about our country’s Constitution and its importance and impact through various exhibits, movies and events at the National Constitution Center. Head over to Signer’s Hall and mingle with 42 life-sized bronze statues of the signers of the Constitution and read one of the last public copies of this historical document.
10. Step back in time and relive the birth of our nation at the Museum of the American Revolution. Dress up like a Continental Soldier, sail away on a giant replica of a privateer ship or hang out under a replica of Boston’s Liberty Tree! Stay tuned for the upcoming opening of the Discovery Center, which will feature a miniature version of the Liberty Tree and hands-on activities for pint-sized visitors.
J. Fusco/Visit Philadelphia
11. Plan a day trip to the Independence Seaport Museum and learn about the maritime history of the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, as well as Philadelphia’s role in the creation of the US Navy. Venture inside the BECUDA, a retired WWII submarine, or the OLYMPIA, the country’s oldest floating steel warship, both docked on the Delaware. Come on a Seafarin’ Saturday for a themed family activity!
12. It’s hard to miss the giant paint brush (complete with paint!) and Cold War Era Naval Plane-turned Greenhouse outside of the PAFA Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts. Inside the museum, your little ones will be introduced to 19th and 20th century art along with contemporary American sculptures, paintings and works on paper.
13. Spend an afternoon at the inspirational National Liberty Museum, where core messages include liberty, freedom and what it means to be a hero. Visitors can explore the meaning of liberty and freedom demonstrated through the 21-foot glass sculpture Flame of Liberty and Jellybean Children. And the best part? There’s an exact replica of the Liberty Bell on the first floor (and yes, this one can be touched!).
14. Transport your family to Ancient Egypt at the Penn Museum (University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology), home to one of the largest collections of Egyptian artifacts in the country. Be wowed by the 13-ton red granite sphinx and (almost) completely excavated Egyptian palace among so much more! Bring your preschooler on the first Tuesday of the month for a museum playdate or the entire family on a second Saturday for special tours, crafts and scavenger hunts.
Visit Philadelphia
15. Discover the very location where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were both signed at the Independence Hall. Imagine the echoes of the conversations and debates that shaped the future of our nation as you navigate through the different rooms. Be sure to stop by the visitor center and grab your kids a Junior Ranger booklet (complete it for a certificate and badge!) or find a park ranger to get a trading card.
16. Head downtown to the National Museum of American Jewish History for four floors of interactive exhibits that chronicle the different stories and experiences of Jewish immigrants into America. Don’t forget to visit the Only in America Gallery/Hall of Fame where you can catch a peek of Steven Spielberg’s first camera or Albert Einstein’s pipe.
17. Chat with Betsy Ross and tour the birthplace of the American flag at the Betsy Ross House in Old City. Kids can participate in a special audio tour of the house and work to solve 13 “history mysteries!” Check the website for free seasonal events—we personally love the chocolate demonstrations.
18. Stop by the Benjamin Franklin Museum and learn about this Founding Father’s impact on Philadelphia. Known for his love of squirrels, your littles will giggle in delight searching high and low to find miniature squirrel (“skuggs”) figurines hidden throughout various exhibits in the museum.
J. Fusco/Visit Philadelphia
19. Learn about the African-American experience throughout our nation’s history through art, history and culture at the African American Museum in Center City. Stop by the Children’s Corner, an interactive exhibit for little ones to experience life as a child in Philadelphia in the 1800’s. The museum also hosts a monthly Macy’s Family Day with free storytelling, crafts and music.
20. Expose your budding artists to one of the world’s largest collections of Impressionist, post-Impressionist, early Modern paintings and African sculptures (think Renoir and Matisse) at The Barnes Foundation. Plan your visit around a Free First Sunday, where admission is free and your kids can enjoy a plethora of family-friendly activities. (Insider tip: pack a lunch and have a picnic on the benches that sit directly across from the sleek reflecting pool in front of the museum before heading in.)
21. Snap a picture of your crew with the iconic sculpture The Thinker, just steps away from The Rodin Museum. Once inside, marvel at the largest collection of Auguste Rodin sculptures outside of France. Some of the sculptures can be found in the outdoor garden, so dress appropriately!
22. Take a trip to Liberty Bell Center, home to the infamous Liberty Bell. Learn about how the bell atop of Independence Hall became a symbol of liberty and freedom through video and print exhibits. Plan accordingly if coming on a weekend or holiday, as there can be a long wait!
J. Fusco/Visit Philadelphia
23. Enter Carpenter’s Hall where the First Continental Congress met and famously voted in favor of a trade embargo from England—one of the first steps leading to the American Revolution. During the summer months, kids can enjoy a performance of Colonial Kids Quest Puppet Show behind the Hall!
24. Your scientists-in-the-making will love the Chemical Heritage Foundation, which aims to educate visitors on the importance of chemistry and how it relates to everyday life. Stop by on a First Friday and participate in a hands-on science experiment or activity!
