Visit the Wagner Museum 2024

Visit the Wagner Museum 2024

Welcome to the Wagner - a National Historic Landmark natural history museum in Philadelphia!

By Wagner Free Institute of Science

Select date and time

Location

Wagner Free Institute of Science

1700 West Montgomery Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19121

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 7 days before event

About this event

Visit The Wagner!

Come see our landmark building and historic museum collections, including rocks, minerals, fossils, taxidermy animals, mounted skeletons, and more! The exhibit hall is self-guided, allowing visitors to explore and learn at their own pace. For first-time visitors and anyone preferring a little more direction, we have scavenger hunts to guide you and knowledgeable staff on hand to answer any questions.

We are open: Tuesday through Friday 9:30 to 4:30PM & on the 1st Saturday of the month from 12 to 4PM (September through May). Check our website for our schedule of evening programs and special events.

The Wagner also offers lessons and tours for groups. For organized groups such as schools, camps, day services, or homeschool cohorts, please schedule an appointment on our website or email morganc@wagnerfreeinstitute.org to let us know you're coming.


Things to Know Before Your Visit

•The Wagner’s building is a National Historic Landmark. The museum is located on the second floor requires climbing a flight of stairs to view. Contact morganc@wagnerfreeinstitute.org for more information about accessibility.

• Walk-in visitors are welcome. Advance registration is appreciated and will speed up your entry to the museum.

• Masks are welcomed, but not required

• There is no coat check or place to stow personal items – please travel light.

• 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 and metered parking is available on Bouvier Street and Cecil B. Moore 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. To learn more about what we do please visit our website.

Registration Information

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/student

$0 - Wagner members

For 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.

Organized by

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 every month from Noon to 4 PM. The Wagner also offers courses, lectures and events in the evenings, in person and online. Join us!

$0 – $25