Deborah McCabeDo you love traveling back in time like me? I know that question got you thinking, “Huh?”
I’m not talking about a literal time traveling but rather about glimpsing the past through its remnants. Simply put, I’m talking about museums. It’s sort of like traveling back in time, right?
I love museums, both as a writer and as a human being. I love it as a writer because it inspires me to be creative. Who wouldn’t get inspired seeing various kinds of art? Also, I love it as a human being because it shows me how far we’ve come from where we began—in a good way.
Since I love museums so much, I’ve managed to visit some of Philadelphia’s museums, and I’m sharing the best ones here! These museums are perfect whether you’re a tourist, an art lover, or a person who just wants to appreciate the past.
1. Philadelphia Museum of Art
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Website: https://www.philamuseum.org/
Address: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy
Contact Details: +1 215 763 8100
Operating Hours:
- Monday and Thursday – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Friday- 10:00 AM to 8:45 PM
- Saturday and Sunday – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Pricing: $
I’m a big fan of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s extensive and diverse art collections from various historical periods and countries.
This is a spot where artworks from Europe, America, and Asia merged, bringing much joy to me and art and history enthusiasts.
Some of the artworks I love here are the ones from world-renowned artists Van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, and Marcel Duchamp. I also admire the unique outdoor sculpture garden that offers a space for appreciating another art form in a natural setting.
| Pro Tip: Don’t forget to imitate Rocky Balboa’s run and celebration on the Rocky Steps before entering the museum. Download the museum’s app for audioguides, maps, and other helpful information. |
2. Barnes Foundation
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Website: https://www.barnesfoundation.org/
Address: 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy
Contact Details: +1 215 278 7000
Operating Hours:
- Thursday to Monday – 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Pricing: $
I love the groundbreaking African art Barnes Foundation stores, especially the domestic objects like heddle pulleys, tobacco mortars, and headrests. It’s hard to believe these kinds of things with innovative designs were made before technology took off.
Another notable feature is the unique arrangement of artworks of various impressionists and post-impressionists. I’m amazed at how the artworks were curated to highlight visual connections and create a dialogue between different art forms and cultural traditions.
However, what I love most about this museum is the vast collection of Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s masterpieces. It houses almost 200 of his paintings! I can tell he loves to paint humans a lot.
| Pro Tip: Consider visiting on the first Sunday of the month, as the museum offers free admission. For devoted art enthusiasts, take one of the museum’s online or on-site art classes. |
3. The Franklin Institute
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Website: https://fi.edu/en
Address: 222 N 20th St
Contact Details: +1 215 448 1200
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Pricing: $
The Franklin Institute is a science museum that is entertaining for all ages. My family and I have been here thrice, and we love that there are always new, exciting things every time we visit.
The museum has interactive exhibits that my nieces enjoy, particularly Your Brain. This exhibit never fails to make them happy. They love the visual illusions they see when entering it. It also has educational demonstrations showing how the brain works.
Personally, I like the BODY WORLDS: Vital exhibition. I’m always curious about how our body works, and this exhibit quenches that curiosity. This is where I first experienced seeing real human specimens up close.
| Pro Tip: Consider buying a membership for numerous benefits, such as unlimited free general admission, special discounts, and more. Due to limited space, strollers are not allowed in some exhibition galleries. So, bring a baby sling when you visit with a toddler to enjoy the whole museum. |
4. The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
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Website: https://ansp.org/
Address: 1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy
Contact Details: +1 215 299 1000
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Friday – 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Pricing: $
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is the oldest natural history museum in America, founded in 1812. It is the ideal place to see extensive and diverse collections of once-living organisms.
I can’t express how much I love the dinosaur collections in this museum. Not all museums have dinosaur fossils, let alone a lot of them! I can’t imagine how scary a T. rex was when it was still around, based on its skeleton alone.
Aside from the dinosaurs, I also love the museum’s historic dioramas showcasing multiple types of ecosystems. It houses 37 dioramas from different periods of the 19th century, specifically between the 1930s and the 1950s.
| Pro Tip: The museum is generally less crowded in the afternoon, specifically after 2 PM, and at the beginning of the week. Get tickets online so you can save $2 for each ticket. |
5. The Mütter Museum
Website: https://muttermuseum.org/
Address: 19 S 22nd St
Contact Details: +1 215 563 3737
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Monday – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Pricing: $
The Mütter Museum is the museum that makes me feel like a medical student every time I set foot in it. It has a great collection of anatomical specimens and medical instruments throughout history.
I know this might be obvious to some, but I find it frightening to discover that most medical instruments have naturally sharp edges ever since. I understand that the tools must be like that to cut through the body, but I still find it scary.
Besides the collections, I enjoy exploring the Benjamin Rush Medicinal Plant Garden. What’s remarkable here is the White Garden, which was created out of the gardener’s amazement at how the white flowers glow in the moonlight.
| Pro Tip: Remember that taking pictures and videos is not allowed inside the museum. It is only allowed in the garden. Most importantly, be prepared for some of the museum’s collections, such as the human remains with disturbing features. |
6. National Constitution Center
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Website: https://constitutioncenter.org/
Address: 525 Arch St
Contact Details: +1 215 409 6600
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Sunday – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Pricing: $
The National Constitution Center is the place to go if you’re interested in the American Constitution. It contains exhibits that show the Constitution’s comprehensive history, including the people who signed it and the ongoing evolution of American citizenship.
My favorite exhibit in this museum is The Story of We the People. This interactive exhibit highlights the Constitution’s evergreen relevance in the country using original documents. Not to be dramatic, but it makes me feel like I’m a part of something.
Another thing I like is the 20-minute live exhibit, Freedom Rising, at the museum’s Sidney Kimmel Theater. When I watched it for the first time, I was astonished at how passionate the narrator was about recounting the Constitution’s history—and to think she does it every hour.
| Pro Tip: Consider a guided tour that provides valuable context and insights into the exhibits and the Constitution’s history. While taking non-flash photos and videos is allowed in exhibits, it is prohibited in the theater spaces. |
7. Eastern State Penitentiary
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Website: https://www.easternstate.org/
Address: 2027 Fairmount Ave
Contact Details: +1 215 236 3300
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Pricing: $
Eastern State Penitentiary is a former prison turned museum that makes me think about things I never experienced. It’s hard to imagine that people lived in a very isolated cell with nothing to see but the sunlight coming from a vaulted ceiling.
I went to this historical museum when I found out that the notorious gangster Al Capone was imprisoned here for almost a year. I’m curious about what his cell looked like and if the museum maintained it. His cabinet radio is still there, as he loved to listen to waltz music.
Another thing worth mentioning about this museum is the sound art installations. The one I like most is Chorus, a collection of recordings of prisoners in the penitentiary while singing songs. It’s surreal hearing the voices of people who died long ago.
| Pro Tip: Buses from the Big Bus and Philadelphia Trolley Works stop outside the museum. Show your bus ticket from these bus agencies at the entrance for a $1 discount. If visiting with 15 or more people, ask for a possible private group tour for a more personalized experience. |
8. African American Museum in Philadelphia
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Website: https://www.aampmuseum.org/
Address: 701 Arch St
Contact Details: +1 215 574 0380
Operating Hours:
- Thursday to Sunday – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Pricing: $
There’s no other place like the African American Museum in Philadelphia to explore African Americans’ heritage, art, and culture.
Audacious Freedom, one of the museum’s permanent exhibits, allowed me to see the overlooked contributions of biracial people throughout American history. It features people like Octavius Catto and Richard Allen, who played key roles in the struggle for equality.
It’s also a great experience to see the collection of photographs of Jack T. Franklin, the United States Army’s photographer during World War II. There’s this one photo that I can’t forget: a white man with three colored children beside him.
| Pro Tip: Visit the museum’s official website to be updated about its upcoming exhibits. |
9. Rodin Museum
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Website: https://rodinmuseum.org/
Address: 2151 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy
Contact Details: +1 215 763 8100
Operating Hours:
- Monday and Thursday – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Pricing: $
The Rodin Museum is the only museum outside Paris with the largest number of Auguste Rodin’s artworks, including his sculptures and drawings. This is why I was so excited to go here. I wanted to see some of his works without the need to go to France.
I was delighted to see the iconic The Thinker in a beautiful garden. I can still remember how long I hung out near it. You can’t blame me, though. I just saw it in pictures before, and seeing it in person is one of my small dreams.
Another majestic sculpture I saw in this museum is The Gates of Hell. By looking at it, I can tell Rodin had unmatched patience and focus when making this detailed masterpiece.
| Pro Tip: Consider visiting during weekdays, as the museum is naturally crowded on weekends. |
10. Please Touch Museum
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Website: https://www.pleasetouchmuseum.org/
Address: 4231 Avenue of the Republic
Contact Details: +1 215 581 3181
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday (except Tuesday) – 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
- Sunday – 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Pricing: $
Please Touch Museum is a children’s museum that lives up to its name because you and your kids can touch everything you see inside it. I always bring my 5-year-old niece here, as it promotes a hands-on learning experience that’s great for her age.
I often bring her to the Food & Family exhibit because I want her to learn the proper shopping etiquette. This exhibit offers role-playing for shopping at a supermarket, among others.
Another permanent exhibit I love to bring her to is the Imagination Playground. Of course, I don’t want to be a serious, strict auntie, so I let her play here with other kids before we head home.
| Pro Tip: The museum doesn’t have a free parking space, so consider arriving early to be able to park at a free street parking space nearby. |
