What are the opening hours?

Tuesday 9:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 9:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 9:30am - 4:30pm Friday 9:30am - 4:30pm

Wagner Free Institute of Science

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Wagner Free Institute of Science

Where little has changed but the century! A free Victorian era natural history museum in Philadelphia

Founded in 1855, 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 in their 157th year, making them the oldest program devoted to free adult education in the United States. The Institute also has a strong

commitment to children’s science education and offers a range of programs for school groups and through partnerships with neighboring schools and community groups. The Institute’s Museum houses more than 100,000 natural history specimens, a collection begun by founder William Wagner in the early nineteenth century and expanded by the pre-eminent scientist Joseph Leidy in the 1880s. Completed in 1865, the Institute’s National Historic Landmark building is essentially unchanged since the late-nineteenth 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 open to visitors Tuesdays - Fridays, 9 AM to 4 PM, year-round. Evening and weekend programs are offered during the fall, winter and spring.

09/04/2026

We at the Wagner are heartbroken by the decision to close the museum at the The Academy of Natural Sciences. The Academy has one of the world’s most significant natural history collections and its engagement with the public through exhibitions, programs, and community collaborations (like Science on Tap - Philadelphia!) has made science accessible, exciting, and meaningful to millions of Philadelphians.

We know better than anyone how integral natural history museums are to advancing science literacy and fostering a connection to the natural world. When museums close, science literacy and engagement suffer. We lose experiences of beauty, community, and belonging in the world, and we lose public interest in protecting the future of our planet.

At the Wagner, we feel this loss keenly. Our relationship with the Academy dates back to William Wagner’s 1815 membership —he was 19!—and has continued for 200+ years through deeply connected collections, shared board and staff, and close collaborations.

Our condolences to all the brilliant minds behind the Academy’s museum and the staff who make it a beacon of learning. Please support your local cultural institutions and encourage your legislators to do so as well! They are irreplaceable.

09/03/2026

1985 & 2018!

The Wagner has been a destination for science experts to share their knoweldge with the public for free since 1855! The top photo shows an adult program from 1985 gathering around the lectern, and the bottom shows a similar meeting during the 2018 Weeknights at the Wagner talk: Tiny Mysteries: Decoding the Wagner's 19th-Century Microphotographs!

09/02/2026

Make your own nature prints at our September First Saturday Open House on September 12th from 12 - 4pm!

We'll be kicking off our fall Open House series by exploring the role of printmaking in scientific illustration, cataloging, and research! Participants can look through a variety of prints made by artists who were inspired by the Wagner's collection, chat with Fish Print Fish Club about Gyotaku, a traditional Japanese printmaking practice utilizing REAL fish, and even try their hand at screenprinting!

The Wagner's 100,000+ piece natural history collection will also be open for self-guided exploration throughout the day. Browse ancient fossils, glowing minerals, and animals from around the globe.

Admission is free to everyone and donations are welcome to support our mission. Registration is recommended but not required. Learn more and register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/september-first-saturday-printmakingwhen-science-meets-art-registration-1996889520310?aff=FB

Image: Popular Garden Botany, Plate XIX, W. Fitch. del et lith, Wagner Archives

08/28/2026

1987 & 2023!

In the 70s and 80s the Wagner had an interactive children's station complete with a giant sandbox! That area of the Wagner has since been redesigned, but we still have lots of opportunities for kids to practice their excavation skills with our popular shark tooth dig activity!

08/26/2026

Meet our fossil collection volunteer, Matthew Downing!

Since last year, Matt's been working on a project to catalog the thousands of fossils in our collection. Matt spends a few hours every week carefully entering each specimen into a searchable digital database, making it much easier for future researchers to know what's in our collection.

A fossil enthusiast since he was a child, Matt started studying paleontology at Rowan University 10 years ago after retiring from teaching high school science. He's now an adjunct professor at Rowan and teaches a class on invertebrate paleontology every year. His first visit to the Wagner was just last year, when his wife brought him here as a birthday treat! He loved the museum so much that he offered to volunteer with us, and Matt's expertise is a perfect match for this much-needed project. Thank you, Matt!

08/23/2026

Curious about what summer vacation looks like at the Wagner? The museum was closed to the public these past two weeks to focus on collections care—an essential and ongoing part of our work here.

These photos show staff and volunteers (1987, top and 2019, bottom) cleaning our mineral cabinets to remove dust and tidy the collection, which helps protect and preserve our specimens.

This year we're also sprucing up the display of birds' nests & eggs, and a collection fossils from New Jersey. Come see our handiwork next week when we reopen for normal museum hours (Tues - Fri 9:30am - 4:30pm)!

08/22/2026

Nothing quite as timeless as our 161-year-old historic building and collections. We'll be open for normal museum hours starting up again this Tuesday—stop by and get curious!

08/21/2026

We had such a fun time at STEMfest with OIC of America, Inc.! We got to bring some of our specimens to south philly (can you spot our turtle shell, rabbit pelt, and megladon tooth?) and talk to over 400+ kids about all the weird, interesting, and surprising things to learn about nature.

The Wagner will reopen for normal business hours this Tuesday, August 25th. Come see our megalodon teeth, turtle shells, and lots more!

08/07/2026

Drink Beer & Learn Science🍻

This year’s Science on Tap - Philadelphia: Untapped event will take place Monday, August 10th from 6 - 8pm in Benjamin Franklin Hall at the American Philosophical Society.

Speakers will include Sara Ray, Senior Director of Interpretation at The Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Taylor Bailey, environmental historian and historian of science of the United States, Roland Wall, Executive Director for the Patrick Center for Environmental Research at The Academy of Natural Sciences, and Scott McRobert, professor of Biology at Saint Joseph’s University.

Come celebrate with us in the revolutionary city! Purchase tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/science-on-tap-untapped-tickets-1991575966327

08/06/2026

Meet the Wagner's new Assistant Director, Patrick Grossi!

A non-profit professional and place-based advocate, Patrick is committed to accessibility, non-traditional methods of engaging the past, and the equitable and inclusive preservation of the built environment. While he most recently served as Director of Development & Policy at Preservation Chicago, Patrick is no stranger to Philly: he worked for nearly a decade as Director of Advocacy with the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, and was Project Manager of Temple Contemporary's Funeral for a Home.

Welcome to the Wagner team, Patrick!

Address

1700 W Montgomery Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
19121

Opening Hours

Tuesday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	9:30am - 4:30pm

Website

http://www.wagnerfreeinstitute.org/

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