February First Saturday Open House - Once Upon Deep Time

Founded in 1855 in Philadelphia, the Wagner Free Institute of Science is dedicated to providing free public education in science. Its programs include free courses and lectures, field trips and lessons for children and museum tours for all ages. The evening science courses are the oldest program devoted to free adult education in the United States.The Institute’s Museum houses more than 100,000 natural history specimens, a collection begun by founder William Wagner in the early 19th century and expanded by the renowned scientist Joseph Leidy in the 1880s. Completed in 1865, the Wagner’s National Historic Landmark building is essentially unchanged since the late 19th century and includes a Victorian exhibition hall filled with fossils, shells, minerals and mounted animal skeletons and skins displayed in original wood and glass cabinets. The Museum is  currently open to visitors Tuesdays - Fridays, 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM and on the first Saturday of the month (September - May, excluding January), from Noon to 4 PM.  The Wagner also offers courses, lectures and events in the evenings, in person and online.  Join us!

Wagner Free Institute of Science

Learn about the evolution of hearing, with a live musical performance by paleontologist Matthew Bonnan, and explore deep time in the museum

1st Saturday Open Houses

From September - May (excluding January), the Wagner hosts special open house events on the first Saturday of the month!  Guests can explore the vast museum and enjoy themed activities such as presentations, demonstrations, experiments, tours and more!

<h2>FEBRUARY FIRST SATURDAY OPEN HOUSE - Once Upon Deep Time</h2> Explore deep time and evolution at Wagner's February First Saturday Open House!Contemplate the nature of time among the museum's vast fossil collection and learn about the evolution of hearing through a special musical performance by paleontologist Matthew Bonnan. His captivating pop/rock song cycle, Once Upon Deep Time, tells the story of how we came to perceive sound based on what is known from the fossil record and the living world around us. Illustrated by animated videos, Matthew Bonnan and his bandmates will perform a selection of songs in our Lecture Hall at 2pm, with Q &amp; A to follow. Dr. Matthew Bonnan is a unique blend of dinosaur paleontologist and singer/songwriter. A professor at Stockton University, he has co-discovered three new Jurassic dinosaur species and explores how the movement of modern mammals, reptiles, and birds sheds light on the locomotion of their prehistoric counterparts. A self-taught musician and producer, Bonnan has produced two albums, Once Upon Deep Time and An Ode to Everything, that explore themes of science and the human connection.Joining him for the performance will be Dr. Michael Lague and Dr. Sam Giancarli. Dr. Michael Lague is a paleontologist at Stockton University whose research focuses on the postcranial skeleton of early hominins (humans). Dr. Lague plays bass in the Stockton University rock band Monsters of Academia. Dr. Samantha Giancarli is a post-doc at Drexel University where she studies the evolutionary biology and genomics of urban and rural house mice. A former Stockton University undergrad and mentee of Dr. Bonnan, she loves singing and music and plays saxophone for the Once Upon Deep Time show.

The Exhibit Hall will be open for self-guided exploration of the natural history collection throughout the day. Explore our 100,000 natural history specimens, including ancient fossils, glowing minerals and animals from around the globe. Wander at your own pace or follow the path of one of our themed scavenger hunts. You can also pick up pencils and paper to draw from the specimens on display!<h2> </h2><h2>Things to Know Before Your Visit</h2>• Walk-in visitors are welcome. Advance registration is appreciated and will speed up your entry to the museum.• There is no coat check or place to stow personal items – please travel light.• The museum is located on the second floor of the building. There are 5 steps at the entryway and a flight of stairs to access the museum. It is not wheelchair accessible.• To protect the specimens and our historic interiors, photography is not allowed in the museum. Open containers of food and drink are not permitted in the building.•The Institute does not have a parking lot. Street parking on Montgomery Avenue and 17th Street is free. There is 2-hour free parking on Bouvier Street and on many blocks near the Wagner and metered parking on Cecil B. Moore Avenue. The nearest parking garage is at the Liacouras Center on 15th Street and Montgomery Avenue. A dream that keeps growing…In 1855, William Wagner had a dream of providing free science education to anyone who wanted to learn, regardless of background or ability to pay. Today, the Wagner offers more programs to more people than ever before! Your support helps us provide free education, not only through the museum, but through a wide range of courses, lectures, field trips, and children’s science programs. Donations also assist us in caring for the museum and library collections and in preserving our wonderful building, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1990. <a href="http://www.wagnerfreeinstitute.org/index.shtml" title="http://www.wagnerfreeinstitute.org/index.shtml" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">To learn more about what we do please visit our website.</a> <h2>Registration Information</h2>In keeping with its original charter, admission is FREE—donations are suggested to ensure the future and quality of Wagner's free education programs and to preserve its National Landmark building and collections.Suggested Donations$25/Family$10/adult$5/studentFor any questions, please email tickets@wagnerfreeinstitute.org or call 215-763-6529 x17.If you would like to check your membership status or become a member, please email KellyT@wagnerfreeinstitute.org or call 215-763-6529 x11.