Wagner’s September Back-to-School Saturday Open House

SEPTEMBER’S SATURDAY OPEN HOUSE

Explore the Wagner’s museum during September’s Open House! 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.

Make sure to spend some time in our yard during your visit. Take a tour of our teaching gardens and learn about our pollinator gardens, our array of charismatic plants with interesting historical/biological stories, and don’t miss the paw paw trees! We are also a certified Wildlife Habitat (NWF) and Bird Habitat. You can bring paper and pencil draw from nature!

We’re excited to be part of Campus Philly’s CollegeFest this year! We’re looking forward to welcoming college students coming to back to campuses across the city. If you are a student registered with CollegeFest, show us your form when you arrive.

For all visitors, we’ll have information about our fall program schedule, including field trips, hands-on science lessons, evening courses, public talks and special events!

The museum will be open from 12:00 to 4:00 pm.

Things to Know Before Your Visit

• 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.

• To protect the specimens and our historic interiors, photography is not allowed in the museum and 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.

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

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.