List of museums in Philadelphia

This list of museums in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania encompasses museums defined for this context as institutions (including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Also included are university and non-profit art galleries. Museums that exist only in cyberspace (i.e., virtual museums) are not included.

To use the sortable table, click on the icons at the top of each column to sort that column in alphabetical order; click again for reverse alphabetical order.

Current museums

Name Neighborhood Type Summary
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel UniversityCenter CityNatural historyNature dioramas, large mineral crystals, dinosaurs, live animals
ACES MuseumGermantownMilitaryHonors the black and minority veterans of World War II[1][2]
African American Museum in PhiladelphiaCenter CityEthnicFormerly known as Afro-American Historical and Cultural Museum
American Philosophical Society MuseumCenter CityMultipleChanging exhibits on history, science and art drawn from its collections
American Swedish Historical MuseumSouth PhiladelphiaEthnic - Swedish AmericanFocuses on Swedish contributions to history, art, architecture, music, science and technology
Arthur Ross GalleryWest PhiladelphiaArtGallery of the University of Pennsylvania
Athenaeum of PhiladelphiaCenter CityArtMuseum of American fine and decorative arts, exhibits about architecture and design history
Barnes FoundationCenter CityArtPost-Impressionist and early Modern paintings, American masters, Old Master paintings, African sculpture, Native American ceramics, jewelry and textiles, American paintings and decorative arts and antiquities from the Mediterranean region and Asia
Bartram's GardenSouthwest PhiladelphiaHistoric houseBotanical garden with a historic house to tour
Belmont MansionWest PhiladelphiaHistoryHistoric mansion with Underground Railroad museum in Fairmount Park
Betsy Ross HouseCenter CityHistoric housePossible home of Betsy Ross, who sewed flags for the U.S. Navy and may have sewn the first American flag.
Bishop White HouseCenter CityHistoric housePart of Independence National Historical Park, late-18th-century-period house
Carpenters' HallCenter CityHistoryPart of Independence National Historical Park, colonial history of the carpenter's guild
Cedar Grove MansionWest PhiladelphiaHistoric house18th-century stone house reflection five generations of owners
Center for Art in WoodCenter CityArtInternational arts institution, gallery and resource center for design of art in wood
Civil War Museum of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaCivil WarTemporarily closed 2008, seeking new location; collection stored at the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center, National Museum of American Jewish History and the African American Museum in Philadelphia[3]
ClivedenGermantownHistoric houseOperated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, mid 18th-century mansion that was the scene of some of the bloodiest fighting of the 1777 Battle of Germantown during the American Revolutionary War
Concord School HouseGermantownEducation18th-century one-room schoolhouse
Congress HallCenter CityHistoryPart of Independence National Historical Park, restored to period when the building served as the meeting place of the U. S. Congress from 1790 - 1800
Declaration HouseCenter CityHistoric housewebsite, part of Independence National Historical Park, 18th-century house where Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence
Dolley Todd HouseCenter CityHistoric housePart of Independence National Historical Park, 18th-century-period home of Dolley Todd Madison
Drexel University CollectionWest PhiladelphiaArtwebsite, painting, sculpture, decorative arts and porcelain, exhibited in the AJ Drexel Picture Gallery, Rincliff Gallery, Peck Gallery
Eastern State PenitentiaryLower North PhiladelphiaPrisonTours and exhibits about the 19th century prison that was in use until 1971
Ebenezer Maxwell MansionGermantownHistoric houseVictorian mansion and garden
Edgar Allan Poe National Historic SiteLower North PhiladelphiaHistoric houseHome once rented by author Edgar Allan Poe, exhibits about his life and works
Elfreth's Alley MuseumCenter CityHistoric houseOnly house on Elfreth's Alley that is accessible to the public
The Fabric Workshop and MuseumCenter CityArtDevoted to creating new work in new materials and new media
Fairmount Water WorksLower North PhiladelphiaNatural historyInterpretive center houses interactive exhibits about water and the water works
Firemen's Hall MuseumCenter CityFirefightingwebsite, history and heroic moments of Philadelphia firefighting
Fort MifflinSouthwest PhiladelphiaMilitaryCenterpiece of the British conquest of Philadelphia during the American Revolution, 18th- and 19th-century buildings
Founder's HallLower North PhiladelphiaDecorative artsPart of Girard College, collection of furniture, silver, paintings, ceramics, textiles and archives of Stephen Girard, and school memorabilia
Franklin CourtCenter CityHistoryPart of Independence National Historical Park, site of Ben Franklin's house, features Benjamin Franklin Museum, an 18th-century printing office, an architectural/archeological exhibit, an operating post office and a postal museum
Franklin InstituteCenter CityScienceMany hands-on exhibits, also Ben Franklin's inventions
Galleries at Moore CollegeCenter CityArtPart of Moore College of Art and Design
Germantown Historical Society MuseumGermantownLocal historywebsite, furniture, decorative and historical exhibits, located in the John Fromberger House
Germantown White HouseGermantownHistoric houseOwned by the National Park Service, formerly the Deshler-Morris House, 18th-century house that sheltered George Washington and his family
Glen Foerd on the DelawareNortheast PhiladelphiaHistoric sitePhiladelphia's only remaining Delaware riverfront estate open to the public, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Historic American Landscape Survey
Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum and LibraryNortheast PhiladelphiaMilitaryLocated in the John Ruan House, features Civil War and Grand Army of the Republic artifacts, books, and memorabilia
GrumblethorpeGermantownHistoric houseMid-18th-century house
Hill-Keith-Physick HouseCenter CityHistoric houseOperated by the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks, 19th-century home of surgical pioneer Dr. Philip Syng Physick
Historical Society of FrankfordNortheast PhiladelphiaLocal historyHistory of Northeast Philadelphia
Historical Society of PennsylvaniaCenter CityHistoryChanging exhibits of the history of Pennsylvania and the founding of the United States
Independence HallCenter CityHistoryPart of Independence National Historical Park, location where both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted
Independence National Historical ParkCenter CityHistoryIncludes Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Carpenters' Hall, Visitor Center and National Constitution Center
Independence Seaport MuseumCenter CityMaritimeMaritime artifacts, ship models, permanent and interactive exhibits, including the warship USS Olympia (C-6) and the submarine USS Becuna (SS-319)
InsectariumNortheast PhiladelphiaNatural historyThousands of live and mounted insects, interactive displays
Institute of Contemporary Art, PhiladelphiaWest PhiladelphiaArtPart of the University of Pennsylvania
John Johnson HouseGermantownHistoric houseSignificant for its role in the antislavery movement and the Underground Railroad
La Salle University Art MuseumGermantownArtCollections include European and American art from the Renaissance to the present
Laurel Hill MansionNorth PhiladelphiaHistoric housewebsite, 18th-century Georgian house
Lemon Hill MansionLower North PhiladelphiaHistoric houseLocated in Fairmount Park, operated by the Pennsylvania chapter of the Colonial Dames of America and the Friends of Lemon Hill, early-19th-century house
Leonard Pearlstein GalleryWest PhiladelphiaArtwebsite, part of Drexel University's Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design, exhibits novel and experimental art in all contemporary mediums including digital, video, sculpture, photography, graphics, and fashion design
Liberty Bell CenterCenter CityHistoryPart of Independence National Historical Park, includes the Liberty Bell and exhibits about its history and role as an international icon of freedom
Library Company of PhiladelphiaCenter CityLibraryChanging exhibits from its collections of American history and culture from the 17th through the 19th centuries
Living Loft Puppet MuseumWest PhiladelphiaPuppetCreations of the Spiral Q Puppet Theater, open by appointment
Mario Lanza MuseumSouth PhiladelphiaBiographicalwebsite, memorabilia from the career of the legendary tenor Mario Lanza
Marian Anderson Museum and BirthplaceSouth PhiladelphiaBiographicalTwo sites operated by the Marion Anderson Historical Society
Masonic Library and Museum of PennsylvaniaCenter CityMasonicCenter of Freemasonry in Pennsylvania
Mount PleasantLower North PhiladelphiaHistoric houseColonial era mansion
Mummers MuseumSouth PhiladelphiaArtwebsite, costumes from the Mummers Parade
Museum of the American RevolutionCenter CityHistoryHistory of the American Revolution
Mütter MuseumCenter CityMedicalCollection of medical oddities, anatomical and pathological specimens, wax models, and antique medical equipment
National Constitution CenterCenter CityHistoryHistory and relevance of the United States Constitution
National Liberty MuseumCenter CityHistoryEight galleries focus on heroism, freedom, diversity, faith and more; includes over 100 works in glass illustrating the beauty and fragility of freedom
National Museum of American Jewish HistoryCenter CityJewishStory of Jews in America
National Shrine of Saint John NeumannNorth PhiladelphiaReligiousShrine with museum about John Neumann
New Hall Military MuseumCenter CityMilitarywebsite, part of Independence National Historical Park, exhibits about the founding of the United States Marine Corps and the Army and Navy Departments
Old City HallCenter CityHistoryPart of Independence National Historical Park, site of the first U.S. Supreme Court
Painted Bride Art CenterCenter CityArtNon-profit artist-centered performance space and gallery particularly oriented to presenting the work of local Philadelphia artists
Paul Robeson HouseWest PhiladelphiaAfrican AmericanLegacy of Paul Robeson, community art exhibits
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine ArtsCenter CityArtOldest art museum and school in the nation, 19th- and 20th-century American paintings, sculptures, and works on paper
Philadelphia Art AllianceCenter CityArtInstitution hosts art exhibits, theater and music workshops, poetry readings, lectures, concerts and recitals
Philadelphia Doll MuseumLower North PhiladelphiaToyAfrican, Europeans American Folk Art dolls, the renowned Roberta Bell Doll Collection, American and internationally manufactured dolls and more; emphasis on black dolls
Philadelphia History MuseumCenter CityLocal historyHistory museum for the City of Philadelphia
Philadelphia Museum of ArtLower North PhiladelphiaArtEuropean, Asian and American fine art, furniture and decorative arts, arms & armor, period rooms
Philadelphia Museum of Jewish ArtLower North PhiladelphiaArtPart of Congregation Rodeph Shalom, exhibits contemporary art that illuminates the Jewish experience
Philadelphia's Magic GardensSouth PhiladelphiaArtMosaic-covered gardens, building and art gallery
Please Touch MuseumWest PhiladelphiaChildren'sInteractive museum to promote learning in children
Polish American Cultural Center MuseumCenter CityEthnic - Polishwebsite
Powel HouseCenter CityHistoric houseOperated by the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks, 18th-century Georgian townhouse mansion
The Print CenterCenter CityArtwebsite, contemporary printmaking and photography
RittenhouseTownGermantownHistoric village18th and 19th century houses. Site of British North America's first paper mill and birthplace of David Rittenhouse
Rodin MuseumCenter CityArtLargest collection of sculptor Auguste Rodin's works outside Paris
Romanian Folk Art MuseumCenter CityEthnic - Romaniawebsite, Romanian costumes, rugs, pottery, furniture and a full Transylvanian interior
Rosenbach Museum & LibraryCenter CityArt, LibraryRare miniature portraits, 18th- and 19th-century British and American furniture and decorative art, rare books, manuscripts and illustrations, collection of works by Maurice Sendak
Ryerss Museum and LibraryNortheast PhiladelphiaHistoric houseMansion with Asian and European decorative arts, located in Burholme Park
Samuel S. Fleisher Art MemorialSouth PhiladelphiaArtCommunity art centre, contains art by Violet Oakley, tiles by Henry Chapman Mercer, 18th-century Portuguese art, primitive European art, religious art from the original church
Science History Institute (formerly the Chemical Heritage Foundation)Center CityScienceHistory of science, particularly chemistry, and the role science plays in the modern world
Second Bank of the United StatesCenter CityArtPart of Independence National Historical Park, art gallery exhibits of Colonial and Federal leaders, military officers, explorers and scientists, including many by Charles Willson Peale
Shofuso Japanese House and GardenWest PhiladelphiaHistoric housePart of Fairmount Park, traditional 17th-century–style Japanese house and garden
Simeone Foundation Automotive MuseumSouthwest PhiladelphiaAutomotiveCollection of over 65 historically significant racing sports cars
StentonNorth PhiladelphiaHistoric houseEarly American Georgian architecture, operated by The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America
Strawberry MansionNorth PhiladelphiaHistoric houselate 18th-century house located in Fairmount Park
Tall Ship Gazela & Tug JupiterCenter CityMaritime1883 tall sailing ship Gazela, the 1902 iron tugboat Jupiter and lighter barge Poplar open for tours
Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine Shoe MuseumLower North PhiladelphiaClothingOpen by appointment, part of Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine[4]
Thaddeus Kosciuszko National MemorialCenter CityHistoric houseHistoric house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived
Tyler School of ArtLower North PhiladelphiaArtFeatures Temple Contemporary gallery
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and AnthropologyWest PhiladelphiaArchaeology, AnthropologyArtifacts from Egypt, China, Mesopotamia, Greco-Roman antiquities, Buddhist art, African art, and Mayan and other Pre-Columbian artifacts
UpsalaGermantownHistoric houseLate 18th century house
Wagner Free Institute of ScienceLower North PhiladelphiaNatural historyVictorian cases and hand-labeled natural history specimens arranged in the 1880s
Wells Fargo History MuseumCenter CityHistoryInclude a stagecoach, telegraph equipment, historic clothing and currency
WoodfordNorth PhiladelphiaHistoric housePart of Fairmount Park, houses collection of antique household goods, including Colonial furniture, unusual clocks and English delftware
Woodmere Art MuseumNorthwest PhiladelphiaArtPaintings, prints, sculpture and photographs focusing on artists from the Delaware Valley
Wyck HouseGermantownHistoric houseOldest house in Germantown

Defunct museums

References

  1. ↑ "ACES Museum". Historic Germantown. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "Facebook site". ACES Museum. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Civil War Museum of Philadelphia; The Museum's Collection
  4. ↑ "TUSPM Shoe Museum". Temple University. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  5. ↑ Joe Clark (July 14, 1997). "Americana Starts Here Love Of Rockwell Led To Amassing Museum Treasures". Philly Magazine. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  6. ↑ "Cover Story -- Norman Rockwell's America". Atwater Kent Museum. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2015. On Wednesday, June 16, 1999 Atwater Kent Museum, Philadelphia's history museum, opened Cover Story-Norman Rockwell's America, a major exhibit of all 321 covers that Rockwell created for The Saturday Evening Post from 1916 through 1963. In addition, through September, an original painting, The Ouija Board, Rockwell's illustration for the May 1st, 1920, Post cover, will also be on view. This painting is on loan from Dr. Don and Phyllis Stoltz, who, along with Marshall Stoltz, were curators of the former Curtis Center Museum of Norman Rockwell Art that closed in 1997. The Stoltzes donated that Museum's collection of Post covers to the Atwater Kent.
  7. ↑ Emily Babay (October 19, 2015). "The mansions of Fairmount Park: Historic houses have rich pasts and new uses". philly.com. Philadelphia Media Network (Digital), LLC. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
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