October First Saturday Open House—The Birds, the Bees and the 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 pollinators. We also added different kinds of milkweed as sustenance for endangered monarch butterflies that pass through our yard during their long migration. Garden designer Christina Doe will provide tours of the gardens at 1 and 3 pm, explaining the garden design and how it supports our educational mission while providing food and habitat for urban wildlife and a feast for the eyes of our visitors.

We will have binoculars, magnifying glasses, nature identification guides, and friendly staff on hand throughout the day to teach about the natural resources in our yard.

In the Lecture Hall at 2 pm, botanist and chemical ecologist Dr. Kate Goodrich from Widener University, will give a lively presentation: Flowers, Flies and Fermentation, about the pollination ecology of the native pawpaw. The pawpaw is a fascinating local tree that produces the largest native fruits in North America. A staple for indigenous people and early colonists, the pawpaw has a long local history and is gaining fans for the mango-like fruit that ripens in late summer. The Wagner's three pawpaw trees produce an abundance of fruit. As part of the day, there will be young pawpaw plants, grown from seeds in our yard, and a few other select plants for sale to plant in your own garden.

The Exhibit Hall will be open from 12 - 4pm where visitors can see the full range of our natural history collection with 100,000+ specimens on display, including local birds like the Purple Martin, Yellow-winged Sparrow, and American Goldfinch, and a large collection of insects, many of which were collected on the Wagner's grounds. Visitors can wander at their own pace, follow the path of one of our themed scavenger hunts, or even fill in a coloring page with images from the Wagner's library!

Admission is free to everyone and donations are welcome to support our mission.

• Walk-ins are welcome! Advance registration speeds your entry to the museum. Visitors who register in advance do not need to present their registration or confirmation email at the desk—just your name!
• 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. To learn more about what we do please visit our website.

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 communications@wagnerfreeinstitute.org or call 215-763-6529 x17.

If you are a group leader and wish to bring a group of 10 or more to the program, please email our museum educator, [email protected] or call 215-763-6529 x17.

If you would like to check your membership status or become a member, please email [email protected] or call 215-763-6529 x11.

Host or Publisher Wagner Free Institute of Science