Within the center of Philadelphia, the National Liberty Museum dedicates itself to the preservation of freedom and civil liberties for all American people. The museum features a large number of permanent exhibits, including the Coming to America Gallery and the Heroes of 9/11 Memorial. The museum's center houses the Flame of Liberty, a 21-foot glass torch replica fashioned by Dale Chihuly. There are recurring themes of universal heroism in the museum, as well as emphasis on peaceful conflict resolution and encouraging civil involvement in everyone.
National Liberty Museum
321 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-925-2800
Libertymuseum.org
The Academy of Natural Sciences opened its doors in 1812 to give the citizens of Philadelphia a place to explore and enjoy science. The museum has grown since that time. It features several permanent exhibits, including a tropical garden filled with exotic butterflies, 35 wildlife dioramas, and a live animal center featuring animals used for presentations. The Academy also houses Dinosaur Hall, an area of the museum with more than 30 fossil specimens and a fossil dig area.
The Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-299-1000
Ansp.org
Families with younger children, as well as the young at heart, may enjoy the Please Touch Museum quite a bit. Unlike other museums, this one encourages visitors to become hands-on with exhibits. The museum features six interactive areas for families to play around in and learn more about science, nature, and how things work. Exhibits such as River Adventures and Wonderland include smaller areas for children to stretch their imaginations while gaining an educational experience. The museum is also home to the Woodside Park Dentzel carousel, a carousel crafted in 1908 and refurbished for use at the museum.
Please Touch Museum
4231 Ave. of the Republic
Philadelphia, PA 19131
215-581-3181
Pleasetouchmuseum.org
For future healthcare workers and those intrigued by medical anomalies, a trip to the Mütter Museum may be perfect. This museum showcases a large variety of medical curiosities, with the intent to educate future doctors about the human body. There are more than 20,000 different specimens on display, from a number of objects removed from people's throats to a cancerous tumor secretly extracted from President Grover Cleveland. Mütter Museum is also home to a plaster cast of Chang and Eng, two of the most famous conjoined twins in the world.
Mütter Museum
19 South 22nd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-563-3737
Collphyphil.org/mutter.asp
Art enthusiasts would appreciate a trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Opened in 1876, the museum features more than 25 exhibitions each year. In addition, there are more than 225,000 objects in permanent collection at the museum. This includes artifacts from the medieval era to ancient Asian snuff bottles. The museum houses the second largest collection of arms and armor in the country and also features historic costumes, sketches, and photographs on display. In addition, the museum owns an outstanding collection of American art, including many paintings by Philadelphia's own Thomas Eakins.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
26th St and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19130
215-763-8100
Philamuseum.org
