The Academy of Natural Sciences - Philadelphia, PA
N 39° 57.433 W 075° 10.265
18S E 485387 N 4423022
The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia was founded in 1812 to expand knowledge of the natural world. In its early days it organized expeditions to explore the western part of the country, led by Stephen Long and Ferdinand Hayden.
Waymark Code: WM5B9Z
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 12/11/2008
Views: 11
"47. The Academy of Natural Sciences (open 9-5 weekdays, 1-5 Sun.; 9-4 weekdays July-Aug.), SW. corner 19th and Race Sts., oldest institution of its kind in the United States, was established in 1812 by the naturalists John Speakman and Dr. Jacob Gilliams. Among the notable expeditions which the institute helped to sponsor was Rear Admiral Robert E. Perry's trip to northeast Greenland in 1892, when he proved Greenland to be an island.
The red brick building, erected in 1910, houses zoological specimens, a free museum of natural history, 18 habitat groups of American, African, and Asiatic animals, and halls of minerals, gems, meteorites, and birds." --- Pennsylvania: A Guide to the Keystone State, 1940; page 278
This is a really wonderful official local tourist attraction. The Academy of Natural Sciences is Philadelphia's Natural History Museum. The Academy is the oldest continuously operating natural science research institution and museum in the Americas. "It sponsored some of the seminal explorations for American wildlife and fossils, and by the early 1900s, expanded those explorations to Africa, Asia and the Antarctic. Researchers worldwide utilize the museum’s more than 17 million specimens for biodiversity studies." SOURCE
Hours
10:00-4:30 weekdays
10:00-5:00 weekends
General Admission
Adults (age 13 and above): $10.00
Children (age 3 through 12): $8.00
Seniors (age 65+): $8.00
Military & Students (with ID): $8.00
Permanent Exhibits
Butterflies!
Live butterflies from Central and South America, East Africa and Southeast Asia inhabit our tropical garden.
Dinosaur Hall
More than 30 dinosaurs and other Mesozoic reptiles are represented in Dinosaur Hall. In addition, budding dinosaur hunters can search for fossils in The Big Dig or watch and talk to someone preparing dinosaur fossils in the Fossil Prep Lab.
Dioramas
More than 35 dioramas present wildlife from Africa, Asia and North America.
Live Animal Center
More than 100 live animals are used for educational programs, museum presentations and special events. See where they live when they're not working.
Outside-In
Our indoor Nature Museum for Children features hands-on activities and close encounters with live animals.
More Exhibits
These include Alien Invaders, Captain Cook's Cannon, Egyptian Mummies, Living Downstream, Marveling at Mollusks, and Science at the Academy.