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  • Wawa Welcome America – Guided Tour of the Wagner

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Be part of the Wawa Welcome America celebration by visiting the Wagner and enjoying a special guided tour of our National Landmark museum!Welcome America!Guided Tour of the WagnerJoin us for a special Guided Tour on July 3rd as part of Philadelphia's Welcome America Festival!The Wagner Free Institute of Science is a National Historic Landmark natural history museum, with more than 100,000 specimens on display in its historic Exhibition Hall.Every specimen in the collection has its own story to tell. There are smaller stories of how each specimen arrived at the Wagner and larger stories about evolution, religion, and humans' place

  • Summer @ the Wagner – Friday Afternoon Guided Tours – Ocean Life

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Ready for the weekend? Explore the history and collections of the Wagner with a guided tour!Summer Fridays!Guided Tour of the Wagner - Ocean LifeJoin us on Friday afternoons this summer for guided tours of the Wagner - each week will highlight a different part of the collection!The Wagner Free Institute of Science is a National Historic Landmark natural history museum, with more than 100,000 specimens on display in its historic Exhibition Hall.Every specimen in the collection has its own story to tell. There are smaller stories of how each specimen arrived at the Wagner and larger stories about evolution, religion,

  • Summer @ the Wagner – Friday Afternoon Guided Tours – Rocks & Minerals

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Ready for the weekend? Explore the history and collections of the Wagner with a guided tour!Summer Fridays!Guided Tour of the Wagner - Rocks & MineralsJoin us on Friday afternoons this summer for guided tours of the Wagner - each week will highlight a different part of the collection!The Wagner Free Institute of Science is a National Historic Landmark natural history museum, with more than 100,000 specimens on display in its historic Exhibition Hall.Every specimen in the collection has its own story to tell. There are smaller stories of how each specimen arrived at the Wagner and larger stories about evolution,

  • Summer @ the Wagner – Friday Afternoon Guided Tours – Women in Science

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Ready for the weekend? Explore the history and collections of the Wagner with a guided tour!Summer Fridays!Guided Tour of the Wagner - Women in ScienceJoin us on Friday afternoons this summer for guided tours of the Wagner - each week will highlight a different part of the collection!The Wagner Free Institute of Science is a National Historic Landmark natural history museum, with more than 100,000 specimens on display in its historic Exhibition Hall.Every specimen in the collection has its own story to tell. There are smaller stories of how each specimen arrived at the Wagner and larger stories about evolution,

  • Summer @ the Wagner – Friday Afternoon Guided Tours – Taxidermy

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Ready for the weekend? Explore the history and collections of the Wagner with a guided tour!Summer Fridays!Guided Tour of the Wagner - History & Science of TaxidermyJoin us on Friday afternoons this summer for guided tours of the Wagner - each week will highlight a different part of the collection!The Wagner Free Institute of Science is a National Historic Landmark natural history museum, with more than 100,000 specimens on display in its historic Exhibition Hall.Every specimen in the collection has its own story to tell. There are smaller stories of how each specimen arrived at the Wagner and larger stories

  • Summer @ the Wagner – Friday Afternoon Guided Tours – Fossils

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Ready for the weekend? Explore the history and collections of the Wagner with a guided tour!Summer Fridays!Guided Tour of the Wagner - FossilsJoin us on Friday afternoons this summer for guided tours of the Wagner - each week will highlight a different part of the collection!The Wagner Free Institute of Science is a National Historic Landmark natural history museum, with more than 100,000 specimens on display in its historic Exhibition Hall.Every specimen in the collection has its own story to tell. There are smaller stories of how each specimen arrived at the Wagner and larger stories about evolution, religion, and

  • Visit the Wagner Museum 2024

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

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

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

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Join us for our first Saturday Open House of the fall season! Explore the museum, our historic site, and collections.SEPTEMBER'S SATURDAY OPEN HOUSEExplore 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

  • October First Saturday— Home Soil: The Minerals and Geology of Philadelphia

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Join us as we discover local minerals and explore the Wagner's collections.OCTOBER FIRST SATURDAY OPEN HOUSEHome Soil: The Minerals and Geology of PhiladelphiaFrom quartzite to kyanite to garnets—Philadelphia is home to a vast array of regional minerals. Join us on Saturday, October 5th as geologist Bruce Mitchell from the Philadelphia Mineralogical Society engages visitors of all ages in learning about Philadelphia’s rich geological landscape.At 1 PM, join Bruce for an illustrated talk in our historic Lecture Hall about rocks and minerals in this region, including many that were found—and can still be found!—in Fairmount Park along Wissahickon Creek. Bruce will

  • Visit the Wagner Museum 2024

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

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

  • November First Saturday: Bounce, Bend or Break: the Science of Flexibility

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Join us as we explore the science of flexibility and explore the Wagner's collections.NOVEMBER'S FIRST SATURDAY OPEN HOUSEBounce, Bend or Break: the Science of FlexibilityFlexibility is a kind of strength! A tree bends in the hurricane but does not break. A snake slithers through a branch and does not fall. A crab scuttles to safety under a rock. Learn how we can harness bendy ideas from nature. Join the Wagner Free Institute of Science, in partnership with Thomas Jefferson University Chemistry Professor, Dr. Thomas Twardowski, for an afternoon exploring the ways flexibility occurs in nature. Investigate the Interesting Ball, learn

  • Visit the Wagner Museum 2024

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

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

  • December First Saturday Open House

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Come visit the WagnerDECEMBER FIRST SATURDAY OPEN HOUSEShelter from the cold this December during the Wagner's First Saturday Open House! Happening on Saturday, December 7th from 12pm - 4pm, visitors will dig up and identify different types of shark teeth, craft paper snowflakes, and learn about the history of the Wagner. Covering the life of William Wagner, founding of the Institute, and the architecture of our building, the history of the Wagner talk will be given at 1pm and again at 3pm.The Exhibit Hall will be open for self-guided exploration of the natural history collection throughout the day. Explore our

  • Visit the Wagner Museum 2025

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Welcome to the Wagner!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 First Saturday of the month from 12 to 4PM (September - December & February - June). First Saturday programs have their own EventBrite listings

  • Visit the Wagner Museum 2025

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Welcome to the Wagner!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 First Saturday of the month from 12 to 4PM (September - December & February - June). First Saturday programs have their own EventBrite listings

  • February First Saturday Open House – Once Upon Deep Time

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Learn about the evolution of hearing, with a live musical performance by paleontologist Matthew Bonnan, and explore deep time in the museumFEBRUARY FIRST SATURDAY OPEN HOUSE - Once Upon Deep TimeExplore 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

  • March First Saturday Open House – Mushroom Madness!

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Join us for a special weekend opportunity to explore the Wagner's collections and learn all about everyone's favorite fungi--the mushroom!MARCH FIRST SATURDAY OPEN HOUSE: Mushroom Madness!Spring is almost here - get ready to forage by learning all about mushrooms during our March First Open House! The Wagner will be open from 12 to 4 pm for an afternoon packed with hands-on activities, museum exploration, and fun for all ages in our Victorian natural history museum.As part of the program, Sam Bucciarelli, President of the Philadelphia Mycology Club, will present "Introduction to Mushrooms," an overview of everything you want to know

  • April First Saturday Open House—Spring Fest!

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Join us for an afternoon exploring native flowers, buzzing beehives, animals tracks, and other signs of spring!Flowers are blooming, pollinators are buzzing, and the days are getting longer. Join the Wagner Museum and our community partners, The Discovery Center, The Land Health Institute, and the Sanctuary Farm, in spotting the different signs of spring!Outside in the Wagner's yard, observe the shapes, sizes, and colors of different native flowers with The Land Health Institute. Then get an up-close look at a buzzing bee colony with Sanctuary Farm's real-life observation hive! In addition to observing, engage your creative skills by drawing animal-track

  • Visit the Wagner Museum 2025

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Welcome to the Wagner!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 First Saturday of the month from 12 to 4PM (September - December & February - June). First Saturday programs have their own EventBrite listings

  • Weeknights at the Wagner: Landscapes of Enslavement

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Archaeologist Jillian Gale will discuss how she uses archaeological and archival data to document how people navigated enslavement.WEEKNIGHTS AT THE WAGNERLandscapes of Enslavement in the Chesapeake and Caribbean, with Jillian Galle, PhDAs an archaeologist, Jillian Galle studies how thousands of small artifacts, from ceramics and fish bone to tobacco pipes and glass trade beads, can reveal previously hidden patterns in human behavior. For twenty-five years, her work with The Digital Archaeological Archive of Comparative Slavery at Monticello has brought together millions of artifacts, field notes, maps, and images from dozens of sites of enslavement across the American South and Caribbean.

  • May First Saturday Open House: AnatoMAY with the Mütter Museum

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Learn how we're alike on the inside with activities and a guest speaker from the Mütter Museum and Historical Medical Library!What can real-life observation—of skeletons, fossils, and other natural specimens—teach us about the inner workings of humans and animals? Join the Wagner and The Mütter Museum and Historical Medical Library in learning about anatomical structures, how the study of anatomy has developed since the 19th century, and the vital role museums and their collections play in advancing scientific knowledge.Enjoy an engaging presentation from Mütter Museum about comparative anatomy, as well as a plethora of hands-on activities for all ages! Test

  • Visit the Wagner Museum 2025

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Welcome to the Wagner!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 First Saturday of the month from 12 to 4PM (September - December & February - June). First Saturday programs have their own EventBrite listings

  • Westbrook Lecture—Beyond the Binaries: The New Science of Sex and Gender

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Join us as Mallika Sarma, Agustín Fuentes, and Nathan Lents reveal how sex & gender are not always neatly coupled in humans nor animals.ANNUAL WESTBROOK LECTUREBeyond the Binaries: The New Science of Sex and Gender with Mallika S. Sarma, Agustín Fuentes, and Nathan H. LentsRecent executive orders in the United States and Supreme Court decisions in the United Kingdom have claimed a scientific consensus regarding the binary nature of sex and gender. But is that what science actually shows? Far from affirming a simple binary, the past two decades of sex and gender research, in both humans and other animals,

  • Visit the Wagner Museum 2025

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Welcome to the Wagner!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 First Saturday of the month from 12 to 4PM (September - December & February - June). First Saturday programs have their own EventBrite listings

  • Summer Fridays in the Field

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Practice your scientific skills of observation, identification, and questioning with local flora and fauna in the Wagner's Teaching Garden!Explore your local ecosystem this summer at the Wagner's Fridays in the Field! Beginning June 20th, the Wagner Teaching Garden will be open for independent educational exploration every Friday from 1 - 3:30pm.The Wagner's Teaching Garden is our most valuable classroom. Not only is our green space full of pollinator gardens, but it is also a certified Wildlife Habitat, Bird Habitat, and Monarch Waystation—our milkweed plants provide valuable nutrients for Monarch butterflies during their cross continental migration.Visitors of all ages may borrow

  • Wawa Welcome America—Collections Tour

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Celebrate Wawa Welcome America with a special guided tour of our National Landmark building and collections!Welcome America!Free Museum Day—Collections TourJoin us for a special Guided Tour on July 1st as part of Philadelphia's Welcome America Festival!Every specimen in our collection has its own story to tell. There are small stories of how each specimen arrived at the Wagner, and larger stories about how the combined collection illustrates themes of evolution, religion, and humans' place in the universe. This guided tour offers a special opportunity to learn more about our specimens, why the exhibit hall is arranged the way it is,

  • Summer Fridays in the Field

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Practice your scientific skills of observation, identification, and questioning with local flora and fauna in the Wagner's Teaching Garden!Explore your local ecosystem this summer at the Wagner's Fridays in the Field! Beginning June 20th, the Wagner Teaching Garden will be open for independent educational exploration every Friday from 1 - 3:30pm.The Wagner's Teaching Garden is our most valuable classroom. Not only is our green space full of pollinator gardens, but it is also a certified Wildlife Habitat, Bird Habitat, and Monarch Waystation—our milkweed plants provide valuable nutrients for Monarch butterflies during their cross continental migration.Visitors of all ages may borrow

  • Visit the Wagner Museum 2025

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Welcome to the Wagner!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 First Saturday of the month from 12 to 4PM (September - December & February - June). First Saturday programs have their own EventBrite listings

  • Summer Fridays in the Field

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Practice your scientific skills of observation, identification, and questioning with local flora and fauna in the Wagner's Teaching Garden!Explore your local ecosystem this summer at the Wagner's Fridays in the Field! Beginning June 20th, the Wagner Teaching Garden will be open for independent educational exploration every Friday from 1 - 3:30pm.The Wagner's Teaching Garden is our most valuable classroom. Not only is our green space full of pollinator gardens, but it is also a certified Wildlife Habitat, Bird Habitat, and Monarch Waystation—our milkweed plants provide valuable nutrients for Monarch butterflies during their cross continental migration.Visitors of all ages may borrow

  • Visit the Wagner Museum 2025

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Welcome to the Wagner!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 First Saturday of the month from 12 to 4PM (September - December & February - June). First Saturday programs have their own EventBrite listings

  • Visit the Wagner Museum 2025

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Welcome to the Wagner!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 First Saturday of the month from 12 to 4PM (September - December & February - June). First Saturday programs have their own EventBrite listings

  • September First Saturday Open House: Back to School at the Wagner

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Join us for the first Saturday Open House of the fall season! Explore the museum and take a tour to learn more about the collection & site.Explore the Wagner during our Back to School Open House—the first of our fall season!The museum will be open for self-guided exploration throughout the day. Explore our vast collection of 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

  • Weeknights at the Wagner—A Flood of Pictures—Photography Deepens the Waters

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Learn how illustrations, photographs and other visual communications came to permeate everyday lives and experiences in the United States.WEEKNIGHTS AT THE WAGNERA Flood of Pictures: Photography Deepens the Waterswith Dr. Michael Leja, James and Nan Wagner Farquhar Professor Emeritus of History of Art, University of PennsylvaniaIn a contemporary society completely saturated with visual art, advertising, and other media, it is difficult to imagine pictures as a novel way of communicating. At this Weeknights at the Wagner talk, Dr. Michael Leja will take us back to the formative period of this cultural transformation in the U.S.—three decades before the Civil War—when

  • Visit the Wagner Museum 2025

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Welcome to the Wagner!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 First Saturday of the month from 12 to 4PM (September - December & February - June). First Saturday programs have their own EventBrite listings

  • October First Saturday Open House—The Birds, the Bees and the Pawpaw Trees

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Join us as we unveil the Wagner's new native plant pollinator gardens and learn all about the birds, the bees and our Pawpaw trees!Explore the Wagner inside and out during this special Open House! In addition to enjoying the wonders of the museum, you can step outside to observe nature and learn about the array of native plants that make the Wagner's yard a green oasis for humans and all kinds of local fauna.Over the summer we replanted the Wagner's teaching gardens, removing invasive species and adding a variety of native plants designed to attract birds, bees, butterflies and other

  • November First Saturday Open House: Spooky Creature Feature—Bats!

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Get up-close-and-personal with live bats from PA Bat Rescue and learn how these spooky creatures help our ecosystem thrive!Did you know Pennsylvania is home to nine different species of bats? Learn why bats are important animals in our ecosystem, how humans can help protect them, and how they’re not as scary as they may seem during our November Open House! A special presentation from The Pennsylvania Bat Rescue and Rehabilitation Center will be given at 1pm where brave participants will get to meet and greet some of the center's live ambassador bats!Visitors can also view skeletons, spiders, and other spooky

  • Visit the Wagner Museum 2025

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Welcome to the Wagner!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 First Saturday of the month from 12 to 4PM (September - December & February - June). First Saturday programs have their own EventBrite listings

  • Visit the Wagner Museum 2025

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Welcome to the Wagner!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 First Saturday of the month from 12 to 4PM (September - December & February - June). First Saturday programs have their own EventBrite listings

  • December First Saturday Open House: Mineral Mania!

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Learn all about what makes different minerals special and how humans utilize them in our daily lives.Upstairs in the Wagner's Exhibit Hall you'll find rows of cases featuring shiny crystals, stinky sulphur, minerals found locally, minerals that glow under UV light, minerals as big as a dinner plate and those as small as a penny.During this special open house explore how people historically learned about minerals and other natural elements. Visitors can view educational lantern slides from our archives, look at different minerals under a microscope, and explore optical mineralogy. Visitors may also experiment with minerals from the Wagner's teaching

  • Visit the Wagner Museum 2025

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Welcome to the Wagner!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 First Saturday of the month from 12 to 4PM (September - December & February - June). First Saturday programs have their own EventBrite listings

  • Weeknights at the Wagner: Art, Science, and the “Super/Natural”

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Artist Judith Schaechter discusses her monumental exhibit Super/Natural and how she combines science and art in her work to conjure wonder.WEEKNIGHTS AT THE WAGNERIn Conversation with Judith Schaechter: Art, Science, and the “Super/Natural”Acclaimed stained glass artist Judith Schaechter will discuss her immersive installation "Super/Natural"—a luminous, three-tiered cosmos rendered in glass. The work draws on her residency at the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics, incorporating insights from biophilic design and the rich history of women’s contributions to botanical art. "Super/Natural" reimagines nature as a space of awe and contemplation, inviting viewers into a renewed sense of wonder and connection with the living

  • Visit the Wagner Museum 2026

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Welcome to the Wagner!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 holds more than 100,000 natural history specimens. It 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, 9:30AM to 4:30PM, and on the First Saturday of the month from 12 to 4PM (September to May, except January). First Saturday

  • Visit the Wagner Museum 2026

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Welcome to the Wagner!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 holds more than 100,000 natural history specimens. It 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, 9:30AM to 4:30PM, and on the First Saturday of the month from 12 to 4PM (September to May, except January). First Saturday

  • February First Saturday: Rock, Paper, Stickers—The Science of Surface

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Join us to learn about the science of the surfaces that hold our communications, from rocks to paper, and explore the Wagner's collections.FEBRUARY'S FIRST SATURDAY OPEN HOUSERock, Papers, Stickers: The Science of SurfaceFrom cave paintings, to love letters, to bank statements, or even the plans for the moon landing, writing down our ideas—as words and images—gives them power and helps us communicate across centuries. For writing to last, stylus must meet surface and create an indelible mark. At this Open House, Thomas Jefferson University Chemistry Professor Dr. Thomas Twardowski will present a set of demonstrations that explore inks and surfaces,

  • Visit the Wagner Museum 2026

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Welcome to the Wagner!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 holds more than 100,000 natural history specimens. It 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, 9:30AM to 4:30PM, and on the First Saturday of the month from 12 to 4PM (September to May, except January). First Saturday

  • Visit the Wagner Museum 2026

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Welcome to the Wagner!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 holds more than 100,000 natural history specimens. It 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, 9:30AM to 4:30PM, and on the First Saturday of the month from 12 to 4PM (September to May, except January). First Saturday

  • March First Saturday: The Natural History Road Show

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Have your found rocks, minerals, shells, bones, insects, fossils and other specimen identified by science experts!MARCH'S FIRST SATURDAY OPEN HOUSEThe Natural History Road ShowAre you a 21st century naturalist? Do you have natural materials collected on a personal expedition but can't figure out the scientific classification for your findings? Come have your specimens identified by a panel of experts at the Wagner’s Natural History Road Show! Visitors can meet and chat with scientists who specialize in insects, fossils, bones, shells, rocks, and minerals. If you don’t have a specimen to bring, see if you can stump the panelists with one

  • April First Saturday: All About Bugs!

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Explore the museum, capture bugs in the Wagner's teaching garden, and learn about insect preservation.APRIL FIRST SATURDAY OPEN HOUSEAll About Bugs!The Wagner's Entomology Collection boasts a lot of bugs: iridescent beetles, pinned butterflies, millipedes in ethanol, and more—with a significant selection collected right here in Philadelphia. At this First Saturday Open House visitors will learn about insect behavior and eating habits, learn tricks for capturing bugs in the wild, and discover different techniques for insect preservation. With the help of an entomologist, folks will also get the chance to pin their own insect specimen to take home with them.The Wagner's

  • Fridays in the Field

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Practice observation and nature identification in the Wagner's Teaching Garden!The Wagner's Teaching Garden is our most valuable classroom. Not only is our green space full of pollinator gardens, but it is also a certified Wildlife Habitat, Bird Habitat, and Monarch Waystation—our milkweed plants provide valuable nutrients for Monarch butterflies during their cross continental migration.Beginning Friday, April 10th, the Wagner Teaching Garden will be open for independent educational exploration every Friday from 1 - 3:00pm.Visitors of all ages may borrow hand lenses for close observation of our urban ecosystem, use nature guides to help identify the different animals, trees, and rocks

  • Fridays in the Field

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Practice observation and nature identification in the Wagner's Teaching Garden!The Wagner's Teaching Garden is our most valuable classroom. Not only is our green space full of pollinator gardens, but it is also a certified Wildlife Habitat, Bird Habitat, and Monarch Waystation—our milkweed plants provide valuable nutrients for Monarch butterflies during their cross continental migration.Beginning Friday, April 10th, the Wagner Teaching Garden will be open for independent educational exploration every Friday from 1 - 3:00pm.Visitors of all ages may borrow hand lenses for close observation of our urban ecosystem, use nature guides to help identify the different animals, trees, and rocks

  • Visit the Wagner Museum 2026

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Welcome to the Wagner!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 holds more than 100,000 natural history specimens. It 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, 9:30AM to 4:30PM, and on the First Saturday of the month from 12 to 4PM (September to May, except January). First Saturday

  • Fridays in the Field

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Practice observation and nature identification in the Wagner's Teaching Garden!The Wagner's Teaching Garden is our most valuable classroom. Not only is our green space full of pollinator gardens, but it is also a certified Wildlife Habitat, Bird Habitat, and Monarch Waystation—our milkweed plants provide valuable nutrients for Monarch butterflies during their cross continental migration.Beginning Friday, April 10th, the Wagner Teaching Garden will be open for independent educational exploration every Friday from 1 - 3:00pm.Visitors of all ages may borrow hand lenses for close observation of our urban ecosystem, use nature guides to help identify the different animals, trees, and rocks

  • Fridays in the Field

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Practice observation and nature identification in the Wagner's Teaching Garden!The Wagner's Teaching Garden is our most valuable classroom. Not only is our green space full of pollinator gardens, but it is also a certified Wildlife Habitat, Bird Habitat, and Monarch Waystation—our milkweed plants provide valuable nutrients for Monarch butterflies during their cross continental migration.Beginning Friday, April 10th, the Wagner Teaching Garden will be open for independent educational exploration every Friday from 1 - 3:00pm.Visitors of all ages may borrow hand lenses for close observation of our urban ecosystem, use nature guides to help identify the different animals, trees, and rocks

  • May First Saturday Open House: Go Birds!

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Learn skills for bird identification at this First Saturday Open House!MAY FIRST SATURDAY OPEN HOUSEGo Birds!Birdwatching requires a combination of skills: a watchful eye, a patient demeanor, and a working knowledge on what local birds look like, sound like, and where you might best find them. At this First Saturday Open House, be an ornithologist by practicing your bird watching skills in the Wagner’s Teaching Garden. Visitors can imitate bird calls and learn tips on how to accurately identify our flying friends. This is a perfect opportunity for folks to freshen up on their ornithology knowledge in preparation for Global

  • Fridays in the Field

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Practice observation and nature identification in the Wagner's Teaching Garden!The Wagner's Teaching Garden is our most valuable classroom. Not only is our green space full of pollinator gardens, but it is also a certified Wildlife Habitat, Bird Habitat, and Monarch Waystation—our milkweed plants provide valuable nutrients for Monarch butterflies during their cross continental migration.Beginning Friday, April 10th, the Wagner Teaching Garden will be open for independent educational exploration every Friday from 1 - 3:00pm.Visitors of all ages may borrow hand lenses for close observation of our urban ecosystem, use nature guides to help identify the different animals, trees, and rocks

  • Fridays in the Field

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Practice observation and nature identification in the Wagner's Teaching Garden!The Wagner's Teaching Garden is our most valuable classroom. Not only is our green space full of pollinator gardens, but it is also a certified Wildlife Habitat, Bird Habitat, and Monarch Waystation—our milkweed plants provide valuable nutrients for Monarch butterflies during their cross continental migration.Beginning Friday, April 10th, the Wagner Teaching Garden will be open for independent educational exploration every Friday from 1 - 3:00pm.Visitors of all ages may borrow hand lenses for close observation of our urban ecosystem, use nature guides to help identify the different animals, trees, and rocks

  • Fridays in the Field

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Practice observation and nature identification in the Wagner's Teaching Garden!The Wagner's Teaching Garden is our most valuable classroom. Not only is our green space full of pollinator gardens, but it is also a certified Wildlife Habitat, Bird Habitat, and Monarch Waystation—our milkweed plants provide valuable nutrients for Monarch butterflies during their cross continental migration.Beginning Friday, April 10th, the Wagner Teaching Garden will be open for independent educational exploration every Friday from 1 - 3:00pm.Visitors of all ages may borrow hand lenses for close observation of our urban ecosystem, use nature guides to help identify the different animals, trees, and rocks

  • Fridays in the Field

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Practice observation and nature identification in the Wagner's Teaching Garden!The Wagner's Teaching Garden is our most valuable classroom. Not only is our green space full of pollinator gardens, but it is also a certified Wildlife Habitat, Bird Habitat, and Monarch Waystation—our milkweed plants provide valuable nutrients for Monarch butterflies during their cross continental migration.Beginning Friday, April 10th, the Wagner Teaching Garden will be open for independent educational exploration every Friday from 1 - 3:00pm.Visitors of all ages may borrow hand lenses for close observation of our urban ecosystem, use nature guides to help identify the different animals, trees, and rocks

  • Fridays in the Field

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Practice observation and nature identification in the Wagner's Teaching Garden!The Wagner's Teaching Garden is our most valuable classroom. Not only is our green space full of pollinator gardens, but it is also a certified Wildlife Habitat, Bird Habitat, and Monarch Waystation—our milkweed plants provide valuable nutrients for Monarch butterflies during their cross continental migration.Beginning Friday, April 10th, the Wagner Teaching Garden will be open for independent educational exploration every Friday from 1 - 3:00pm.Visitors of all ages may borrow hand lenses for close observation of our urban ecosystem, use nature guides to help identify the different animals, trees, and rocks

  • Fridays in the Field

    Wagner Free Institute of Science 1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Practice observation and nature identification in the Wagner's Teaching Garden!The Wagner's Teaching Garden is our most valuable classroom. Not only is our green space full of pollinator gardens, but it is also a certified Wildlife Habitat, Bird Habitat, and Monarch Waystation—our milkweed plants provide valuable nutrients for Monarch butterflies during their cross continental migration.Beginning Friday, April 10th, the Wagner Teaching Garden will be open for independent educational exploration every Friday from 1 - 3:00pm.Visitors of all ages may borrow hand lenses for close observation of our urban ecosystem, use nature guides to help identify the different animals, trees, and rocks