Exhibits Museum Listings: •Academy of Natural Sciences Museum •African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) •American Helicopter Museum •National Museum of American Jewish History •American Swedish Historical Museum •Museum of Archeology & Anthropology at U of Penn •Arthur Ross Gallery •Atwater Kent Museum •Battleship New Jersey •The Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies •Eastern State Penitentiary •The Franklin Institute Science Museum •Germantown Historical Society •Independence Seaport Museum •Masonic Temple •Mummers Museum •Mutter Museum •National Liberty Museum •Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts •Philadelphia Doll Museum •The Philadelphia INSECTARIUM •Philadelphia Museum of Art •Philadelphia Zoo •Please Touch Museum •Polish American Cultural Center •Rodin Museum •Rosenbach Museum and Library •Woodmere Art Museum For More Local Area Museums, See TownLiving.com •Mercer Museum •Fonthill Museum •Spruance Library

Quick List of Museum Events and Exhibits Current exhibits and events are listed first, followed by upcoming exhibits and events according to their opening date. Start Date End Date Event Museum April, 1, 2004 Opening Day Eastern State Penitentiary Wednesdays, 5:00-8:45pm (except closures, special hrs, etc.) Wednesday Nights at the Phila. Art Museum celebration of special exhibitions & collections. Philadelphia Museum of Art Fridays, 5:00-8:45pm (except museum closures, special hours, etc.) Friday Evenings at the Phila. Art Museum Jazz & inspiring art. Philadelphia Museum of Art

A. D. 62: Pompeii, novel by Rebecca East

Museum Listings:

The Academy of Natural Sciences Museum
Phone: (215) 299-1000;
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Admission: $9.00 Adult; $8.00 Child; $8.25 Senior

Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00AM-4:30PM; Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays 10:00AM-5:00PM ,and Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day

See PhiladelphiaLiving.com's Events Calendar to help make your Museum plans

Also see PhiladelphiaLiving.com's Adventures

American Helicopter Museum & Education Center
Phone: (610) 436-9600;
1220 American Blvd.,Brandywine Airport, West Chester, PA 19380

Description: The American Helicopter Museum & Education Center is dedicated to preserving the origins and development history of rotary-wing aircraft in the United States for public enjoyment and education. The Museum has programs, displays and activities for all age groups.

Admission: Non-members, $6.00 for adults; $5.00 for Seniors (65 and up); $4.00 for Students w/valid College ID; $4.00 for Children (ages 3-18); Free for Children 2 & under. Members receive free admission, discounts, and invitations to members-only events.

Hours: Open Wednesday - Saturday 10a.m. - 5p.m. and Sunday Noon - 5p.m. (Monday and Tuesday open by appointment only)

Other Info: Annual Rotorfest

Eastern State Penitentiary
2124 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130
Ticket Office 215-236-3300; Main Information 215-236-3300

Description: Opened in 1829 as part controversial movement to change the behavior of inmates through "confinement in solitude with labor," Eastern State Penitentiary quickly became the most expensive and most copied building in the young United States. It is estimated that more than 300 prisons worldwide are based on the Penitentiary's wagon-wheel, or "radial" floor plan. Some of America's most notorious criminals were held in the Penitentiary's vaulted, sky-lit cells, including Willie Sutton and Al Capone. After 142 years of consecutive use, Eastern State Penitentiary was completely abandoned in 1971, and now stands, a lost world of crumbling cell blocks and empty guard towers.
Tours Tours include the central rotunda, the solitary confinement yards, the baseball diamond, and death row. The "Voices of Eastern State" Audio Tour, exhibits and art installations are included with admission.

Hours: April through November: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Open 10am to 5pm; Last Entry at 4pm

Prices: $9 for Adults, $7 for Students, $7 for Seniors, $4 for Kids (7 to 12). Group Rates are available.

Please Note: Children under the age of 7 cannot be allowed onto the site.

Other Info: Terror Behind the Walls: Halloween at Eastern State Penitentiary. For complete details visit www.EasternState.org.

The Franklin Institute Science Museum
Phone: 215-448-1200;
222 North 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

If you haven't been here lately, you haven't been here at all.

Free science demonstrations throughout the museum.

Science Center: Four floors of hands-on exhibits. Open 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM, Sunday through Saturday.

Mandell Center: Two floors of innovative science exhibits. Open 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM, Sunday through Thursday and 9:30 AM - 9:00 PM, Friday and Saturday.

Tuttleman IMAX Theater: Projected onto a four-story, domed screen with fifty-six speakers, IMAX films give you the experience of being a part of the action.

Fels Planetarium: Exciting special effects and programs in a 330 seat theater.

Hours: Science Center and Mandell Center as noted above. The Franklin Institute is CLOSED on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Franklin Hall (Benjamin Franklin National Memorial) is CLOSED April 25 & 26, 2001. The Institute CLOSES at 1PM on April 26 and the last IMAX film is at 1PM that day.

Admission: Varies, depending on times and which areas you want to visit. Daytime (9:30AM - 5:00PM): Adults $7.50 - $14.75 and Children/Seniors $7.50 - $12.50. Evening (After 5:00PM): Adults $7.50 - $10.00 and Children/Seniors $6.50 - $8.50. Members enjoy unlimited admission to the Museum and Planetarium and reduced admission to The Tuttleman IMAX Theater.

Germantown Historical Society
Phone: 215-844-0514; Fax: 215-844-2831; Email: ghs@libertynet.org
5501 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144

Centennial Celebration! Saving Our Stories - Preserving Our Community

Description: Museum, library and archives, and visitors center for Historic Germantown in Northwest Philadelphia

Museum exhibits: Germans, Generals, & Gentlemen; Urban Village; Germantown Hall of Fame; Library for research on family, building, or local history topics;

Visitors center for 11 historic sites; Multi-site guided tours; Education programs for schools and youth groups; Summer camp; Adult education programs; Special events

Gift shop: books, toys, and work by local artists and craftspeople

Hours: Visitors Center and Gift Shop: M-F 9am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm; Museum and Library: Tues. & Thurs. 9am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm; Tour and school groups everyday by reservation

Admission: Museum: $4 adults, $2 children under 12; Library: $7.50, $5 students with I.D.; Free for members

National Liberty Museum
Phone: 215-925-2800;
321 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA

Description: New "Home for Heroes" in the heart of historic Philadelphia. Celebrates America's heritage of freedom by honoring over 350 people of all ethnic backgrounds who have contributed to our democracy. Features 56 exhibits, 5 films and over 90 works of art, including a 20-foot glass Flame of Liberty by Dale Chihuly.

Admission: $5 for adults; $4 for seniors; and $3 for students

Hours: Open Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm Special group tours and evening hours are available upon request.

See PhiladelphiaLiving.com's Events Calendar to help make your Museum plans

Philadelphia Museum of Art
Phone: (215) 763-8100;
Benjamin Franklin Parkway and 26th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Description: The Philadelphia Museum of Art, founded in 1876, is unique among American museums in its integrated presentation of a full range of both fine and applied darts from Asia, Europe, and the U.S. Spanning over 2,000 years, the collections include masterpieces of painting, sculpture, prints, and drawings, as well as a wide range of furniture, silver, glasswork, architectural elements, and entire furnished rooms from historic houses. The striking neoclassical building provides an oasis of beauty, and a wealth of activities for visitors of all ages, just minutes from center city Philadelphia.

Admission: Members, free at all times. Non-members, $8 for adults and $5 for children under 18, students with I.D. and senior citizens; children 5 and under, free. Sundays, free until 1:00 pm

Hours: Tues.- Sun. 10AM to 5PM; Wed. evenings until 8:45PM; Closed Mon. and major holidays. Hours subject to change.

Other Info: Museum Store, Art Sales & Rental Gallery, cafeteria, and restaurant. Facilities and programs for visitors with special needs.

See PhiladelphiaLiving.com's Events Calendar to help make your Museum plans

Please Touch Museum
Phone: 215-963-0667; Fax: 215-963-0424
210 North 21st Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Description: Museum for children, primarily ages 1-7, featuring educational and entertaining hands-on exhibits that replicate real life. Examples include a real Septa bus that children can "drive," a miniature grocery store, television studio, and more!

Hours: 9 am to 4:30 pm seven days per week. From July 1 through Labor Day, the museum is open until 5 pm. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

Admission:Members, free; Non-members, $8.95 per person; children age 1 and under are free.

Woodmere Art Museum
Phone: 215-247-0476; Fax: 215-247-2387
9201 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118

Woodmere Art Museum is an American Association of Museums accredited institution that has exhibited, collected, and interpreted the art of the Philadelphia area for over 60 years.

Description: A visual art museum focusing on the art and artists of the Philadelphia region housed in a 19th century Victorian mansion located in historic Chestnut Hill. Woodmere showcases approximately 12 temporary exhibitions a year and nearly 2,500 art objects are in the permanent collection. Woodmere has been celebrating Philadelphia's artistic legacy for over 60 years.

Other Info: Classes for adults and children, concerts, lectures, a children's gallery, and trips to other museums.

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm. Sunday, 1pm to 5 pm. Closed Mondays and major holidays.

Admission: Suggested donation $5, students and senior citizens $3, members and children under 12 free.

African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP)
Phone: 215-574-0380; Fax: 215-574-3110
701 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Description: Collecting preserving and interpreting the material and intellectual culture of African Americans in Philadelphia, the Delaware Valley, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Americas.

Hours: Tues through Sat 10am to 5pm and Sun 12noon to 5pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and Easter. The Museum is Open on Martin Luther King's Birthday.

Admission: Adults $6; children, seniors, students and physically challenged $4. Group rates are available. The Museum has barrier free access. For reservations call 215.574.0380, Ext. 228.

American Swedish Historical Museum
Phone: 215-389-1776
Located in FDR Park in South Philadelphia near the Sports Complex at 1900 Pattison Avenue.

Description: Preserving and promoting the contributions of Swedes and Swedish-Americans in the United States.

Hours: Tues-Fri, 10-4; Weekends, Noon to 4. Closed Mondays and Holidays

Admission: Adults: $5 Seniors, Students and Children 12-18: $4 Members and Children under 12 accompanied by an adult: FREE Admission for holiday and special events varies

Arthur Ross Gallery
Phone: 215-898-2083
220 South 34th Street (Between Walnut and Spruce Streets), in the Fisher Fine Arts Library

Description: The Gallery presents a year-round schedule of art exhibitions, including objects from the Penn University's collections, and other major public and private collections. The Gallery also offers public lectures and tours, children's programs, and traveling exhibitions with an interdisciplinary appeal and international focus.

Hours: Tues through Fri: 10am to 5pm; Sat and Sun: 12pm to 5pm. Closed Mondays and some holidays.

Admission: The Gallery is free and open to the public.

Atwater Kent Museum
Phone: 215-922-3031
15 S. 7th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Description: Philadelphia History Museum. Parking is available next door.

Hours: The Museum is open every day but Tuesday, 10 am to 5 pm.

Admission: Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and $1.50 for children 3 to 12.

Battleship New Jersey, BB-62

The Battleship New Jersey, our Nation's most decorated battleship, is now a floating museum on the Delaware River, along the Camden Waterfront across from Center City Philadelphia.

Description: History comes to life as visitors experience a two-hour guided tour through the Iowa-class ship, one of the largest battleships ever built.

Hours: April 1 - September 30, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; October 1 - March 31, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Tickets: $12.50 for Adults, $8 for seniors and kids 6-11 years old

Independence Seaport Museum
Phone: 215-925-5439
211 South Columbus Blvd. and Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106

Description: Capture our region's maritime heritage with family - oriented interactive exhibits, ship models, artifacts and art.

Hours: Open Daily 10 a.m. - 5 pm Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

Admission: $8.00 for adults; $4.00 for children (ages 5-12); $6.50 for seniors (65 & over); FREE Admission on Sunday mornings from 10am to 12pm (not applicable to groups)

Masonic Temple
Phone: 215-988-1917
One North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Description: Pennsylvania Freemasonry's architectural masterpiece.

Hours: Mon through Fri: 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM; 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Saturday: 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM only. Closed Saturdays during July and August. No tours on Sundays or Major Holidays. Advanced Notice Requested for large Group Tours.

Museum of Archeology & Anthropology at U of Penn
Phone: 215-898-4001
33rd & Spruce Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Description: University of Pennsylvania Museum is an archaeological treasure house

Hours: Tues - Sat 10 am to 4:30pm; Sun 1 pm to 5 pm. Closed Mondays, holidays, and summer Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day

Admission: $5.00 - Adults; $2.50 - Students; FREE - Museum Members, Children under 6, PENNcard holders; FREE ADMISSION on SUNDAYS

Mummers Museum
Phone: 215-336-3050
1100 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Description: The Mummers Museum opened in 1976 and is dedicated to the Philadelphia celebration of New Years. The Museum houses a rich collection of Mummer's paraphernalia and memorabilia, from which the museum draws, to demomstrate the tradition of Philadelphia Mummery.

Hours:
October thru April - Tues-Sat 9:30am - 5pm; Sun 12noon - 5pm
May thru September - Tues 9:30am - 9:30pm; Wed-Sat 9:30am - 5pm; Sun 12noon - 5pm
Closed Mondays, all Holidays, and Sundays in July and August.

Admission: Adults $2.50; Child (under 12) $2.00; Student $2.00; Senior (aarp) $2.00

Mutter Museum
Phone: 215-563-3737
19 South 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Description: The Museum's collections include over 20,000 objects, including fluid-preserved anatomical and pathological specimens, medical instruments, anatomical and pathological models, items of memorabilia of famous scientists and physicians, and medical illustrations.

Hours: MON - SUN, 10am - 5pm

Admission: $4.00 Student Groups with Prior Reservations (minimum 10 persons); $5.00 Reduced Admission for Children 6-18 years of age, Senior Citizens (65+), Students with Valid College ID, and Adult Groups with Prior Reservations; $8.00 General admission for Adults; FREE for Fellows and Members of the College, children under 6, and American Association of Museum individual members

National Museum of American Jewish History
Phone: 215-923-3811
55 North 5th Street, Independence Mall East, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2197

Description: The National Museum of American Jewish History is the only Museum in the nation dedicated exclusively to collecting, preserving and interpreting artifacts pertaining to the American Jewish experience.

Hours: Mon-Thurs: 10am-5pm; Fri: 10am-3pm; Sat: Closed; Sun: noon-5pm; Closed for major Jewish holidays.

Admission: Adults: $4.00; Senior Citizens, students, children 6 and over: $3.00; Children under 6: free.

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Phone: 215-972-7600
Broad and Cherry Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Description: The Academy's museum is internationally known for its collections of 18th-, 19th-, and 20th-century American paintings, sculptures, and works on paper, and as a study center for the work of Thomas Eakins, Cecilia Beaux, and Robert Motherwell, due to its collections and archival materials.

Hours: Tues through Sat, 10 a.m. to 5 pm; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 pm; Closed on major holidays

Admission: (Price changes during Special Exhibitions) $5 adults; $4 seniors and students with I.D.; $3 ages 18 and under; Free to members, children under 5; Sundays are free to all from 3 to 5 pm; Wednesdays are $3 from 12 to 1 pm - Excluding Special Exhibitions

Philadelphia Doll Museum
Phone: 215-787-0220
2200 block of North Broad Street along the Avenue of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA

Description: An educational and cultural resource institution dedicated to preserving the art of doll making and collecting.

Hours: Thurs-Sat 10am -4pm, Sundays from Noon-4pm.

Admission: $4 adults, $3 seniors/students and children (under 12)

The Philadelphia INSECTARIUM
Phone: 215-338-3000
Steve’s Bug Off, 8046 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19136

Description: The Insectarium is the only all-bug museum in the Philadelphia area. People of all ages enjoy visiting this unique attraction. The museum is filled with thousands of mounted insects from all over the world. View live species in naturalized habitats. Enjoy the interactive exhibits that challenge children and adults alike. It is truly a fun learning experience. It is the perfect place for an educational school trip as well as a family outing.

Hours: Mon through Sat - 10am to 4pm. Closed on Sunday

Admission: $5.00

Philadelphia Zoo
Phone: 215-243-1100
3400 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104-1196

Description: Philadelphia's Zoo.

Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 pm daily (April through October)
9:30 a.m. to 5:00 pm daily (February, March and November)
9:30 a.m. to 4:00 pm daily (December and January)
Closed June 14, December 24, 25, 31 and January 1

Admission: General Admission: $10.95; Seniors: $ 7.95; Children (2-11 years old): $ 7.95; Children (under 2 years old): Free; Members: Free. Parking fee is $5.00 per vehicle.

Polish American Cultural Center
Phone: 215-922-1700
308 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Description: The Polish American Cultural Center and Museum Exhibit Hall are a focal point for many Polish American affairs in the greater Philadelphia area

Hours: OPEN 10 AM to 4 PM
January through April - Monday to Friday
May through December - Monday to Saturday
Closed on Holidays

Admission: FREE ADMISSION

Rodin Museum
Phone: 215-763-8100
Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19101-7646

Description: Rodin's work for all to see.

Hours: Tues through Sun, 10am to 5pm; Closed Mondays and holidays. (Hours subject to change.)

Admission: A contribution of $3 per person is suggested.

Rosenbach Museum and Library
Phone: 215-732-1600
2010 DeLancey Place, Philadelphia PA 19103

Description:

Founded in 1954 by famed book dealer A.S.W. Rosenbach and his brother and business partner Philip, the Rosenbach Museum & Library boasts one of the world's greatest collections of rare books, manuscripts, and fine and decorative art, set within a beautifully furnished nineteenth-century townhouse that retains the atmosphere of an age when great collectors lived among their treasures.

Admission includes access to exhibition galleries and a guided tour of the historic house. The Rosenbach is accessible to persons with disabilities.

The Rosenbach offers changing exhibitions, educational programs, a world-renowned research library, and a unique gift shop that offers rare books and prints signed by the author.

Hours: Tues-Sun, 10am-5pm; Wed, 10am-8pm; Closed Mondays and national holidays.

Admission: Adults, $8; students/seniors, $5; members/children under 5, free

The Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies
Phone: 215-925-8090
18 South Seventh Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Description: The Balch Institute is devoted to the ongoing collection and interpretation of materials focusing on our American ethnic, racial, and immigration experiences from an historical and contemporary perspective through its museum exhibitions, library and archives resources, and educational programs.

Hours: Mon through Sat: 10am - 4pm

Admission: Monday through Saturday: Adult $3.00; Children $1.50; Student $1.50; Senior $1.50 - *Saturday: Free until 12.00 o'clock

PhiladelphiaLiving.com: Entertainment: Museums