Wawa Welcome America 250th—Collections Tour

A National Historic Landmark, the Wagner Free Institute of Science is a natural history museum and educational institution. Founded in 1855, it offers an array of free programs about contemporary science and offers an experience of stepping into the world of Victorian science in an exhibit hall filled with fossils, shells, minerals and animals from around the world.

Every specimen in the 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 scientific discovery in the 19th century. This guided tour offers a special opportunity to learn more about our specimens, why the exhibit hall is arranged the way it is, and how our museum reflects social and intellectual histories of the 19th and 20th centuries.

The tour will begin at 3pm in the Lecture Hall with a presentation on the founding and history of the Wagner, followed by a guided tour of the museum that will highlight the architecture of the building and some of the specimens on display.

Visitors are welcome to arrive early to independently explore our historic site and museum collections beforehand. Our collection includes minerals, fossils, shells, insects, taxidermy birds and mammals. All ages may participate in the collections tour but the recommended age is 12 and up.

This program is in collaboration with the Wawa Welcome America 250th celebration.

• Walk-in visitors to the museum are welcome. Advance registration secures your spot for the tour.

• 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 nor air conditioned.

• 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

$0 - Wagner members

For any questions, please email [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 x24.

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Host or Publisher Wagner Free Institute of Science