The City of Brotherly Love is home to many excellent museums. From art, to science, to history, the museums in Philadelphia have it all! We love sharing about all of the fun things to do in Philadelphia with kids. Below we list five Philadelphia museums that are perfect for visiting with kids.
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The Independence Seaport Museum
What It Is
Located on the beautiful Delaware River next to Penn’s Landing, the Independence Seaport Museum is more than just a museum!
Admission also includes tours of their two ships: The Cruiser Olympia and the Submarine Becuna. We love this museum and recommend it as a way to spend a long weekend in Philadelphia. It’s proximity to Penn’s Landing, and the Spruce Street Harbor Park means you can spend a whole day along the Delaware River!
Exhibits Your Kids Will Love
There are many hands-on exhibits inside the Independence Seaport Museum. Kids will love learning about how rivers connect the wilderness to the cities, and how everyone is affected by them. Kids can dress up as some of the beautiful wildlife they would spot among marshes and waterways.
Are your kids fascinated by ships? Let them climb aboard the Schooner Diligence so they can hoist the sail and steer the ship! After you disembark, kids can learn more about the founding of the US Navy.
After exploring the museum inside, follow the outside walkway to the ships Olympia and Becuna. Kids will learn about what life was like on a World War II submarine and a steel warship (the oldest still afloat in the world!). It’s fun to imagine what life would be like on the sea.
Things to Know Before You Go
You can purchase admission to just the museum or only the ships if you prefer. However, we recommend visiting both! Admission ranges from $10-$18 depending on age and ticket type.
Parking is available at the Hilton at Penn’s Landing Parking Garage. We recommend using SpotHero for discounted pre-paid parking. You can also park at the Penn’s Landing Walnut Street Parking Lot. You will receive a discount on parking if you purchase the combination museum/ships ticket. Make sure to present your parking ticket at the museum for validation.
While the museum is wheelchair and stroller accessible, the ships are not. The Becuna requires visitors to descend and climb up very steep stairs. The stairs on the Olympia are not as steep, but there are many of them throughout the ship.
The Independence Seaport Museum does not have a cafe to purchase food. However, thanks to its proximity to Penn’s Landing and Spruce Street Harbor Park, food vendors are often nearby with delicious eats!
The Museum of the American Revolution
What It Is
Located in the heart of Old City Philadelphia, the Museum of the American Revolution guides visitors through a timeline of the war. Guests start at the beginning and walk through several exhibits that feature artifacts, dioramas, and digital displays. This museum is an excellent addition to our Historic Philadelphia itinerary! It will help bring to life everything your kids have learned after exploring the city.
Exhibits Your Kids Will Love
Throughout the museum, kids will enjoy many hands-on exhibits. They can touch the wood of the oldest Liberty Tree and feel a genuine Revolutionary cannon. The life-size dioramas depicting significant events during the war capture children’s attention. And the ship where they can pretend to be a privateer is always a hit!
Things to Know Before You Go
Admission to the Museum of the American Revolution ranges from $13-$21 depending on age. Children under 5 years old are FREE. The museum is included in the Philadelphia Sightseeing Pass, which is a great deal if you are planning on visiting other attractions in the city during your visit.
There is no dedicated parking garage for the museum. However, there are many parking garages nearby, as well as metered street parking. We suggest pre-purchasing your parking through SpotHero for the best price.
There is a cafe on-site that serves colonial-inspired food, as well as more modern cuisine. The cafe offers both indoor and outdoor seating.
The National Constitution Center
What It Is
Opposite Independence Hall on the other end of Independence Mall is the National Constitution Center. This museum is dedicated to the most important document in the United States and walks visitors through its initial creation, and all the changes it has seen over the last 200+ years.
Exhibits Your Kids Will Love
While the initial presentation in the 360 degree Sydney Kimmel Theater is impressive, kids will enjoy many of the interactive exhibits in the main hall.
Some of the favorites are the voting booths in Election Central. Here, kids of all ages can vote in fictional elections between former presidents! Kids can also take the oath to become the President of the United States. And don’t forget to visit Signer’s Hall! Kids can get their photo taken with the men who signed the Constitution, including Benjamin Franklin and George Washington!
Things to Know Before You Go
Admission to the National Constitution Center ranges from $11-$14.50, depending on age. Kids 5 and under are FREE. Consider purchasing the Philadelphia Sightseeing Pass if you plan on visiting other museums on this list, as well as many other popular attractions! The National Constitution Center is right in the heart of Old City Philadelphia, where all of the historic buildings are located. It makes for a great stop when you are spending a weekend exploring historic Philadelphia!
The National Constitution Center has its own parking garage (entrance on Race Street between 5th and 6th Streets). However, if you plan on exploring Old City Philadelphia for the day, you can find more affordable parking via the SpotHero website.
There is a cafe on-site featuring a large selection of grab-and-go sandwiches and salads, as well as hot selections. There is also a Starbucks on-site.
The Franklin Institute
What It Is
The Franklin Institute is the most-visited museum in Pennsylvania, and it is for a good reason! Founded in honor of Benjamin Franklin, this multi-level museum explores the science in everyday life. Sports, physics, electricity, biology, and space are just some of the topics covered at this fantastic museum.
Exhibits Your Kids Will Love
It is hard to pin-point specific exhibits that kids will enjoy the most. Still, some of our favorites include the sports section, where you can race against some of Philadelphia’s top athletes, and the train area, where you can climb aboard a real train engine an even toot the horn!
One of the newer exhibits is all about the human brain. Kids can climb through a jungle gym depicting nerve connections, and then have fun with optical illusions.
The museum also has rotating special exhibits (at an additional cost) that are usually family-friendly. Past exhibitions have included Marvel Comics, Lego sculptures, and Jurassic World.
Things to Know Before You Go
Admission to the Franklin Institute ranges from $19-$23 depending on age. Kids 2 and under are FREE. If you are a member of an ASTC museum, you can receive complimentary admission if you meet the distance requirements.
The Franklin Institute has its own parking garage with an entrance on 21st Street. However, you may be able to find street parking around the museum.
There are several food options in the museum. The main cafe included a selection of both hot foods and grab-and-go sandwiches and salads. There is a small food cart next to the ticket desk that offers popcorn, hot dogs, and other small bites.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art
What It Is
People don’t usually think of art museums as kid-friendly, but I think we’ve proven otherwise! Add the Philadelphia Museum of Art to the list of art museums to bring your kids; you won’t be sorry. The almost 100-year old building is a landmark in Philadelphia, especially its front steps made famous by Rocky!
Exhibits Your Kids Will Love
When we visit the museum, our first stop is the 3rd floor, where you will find knight and horse armors ranging from 500-1000 years old! Also on the 3rd floor is the Japanese tea House and Garden. Kids will love the immersive experience as they feel transported to another country!
The Philadelphia Museum of Art houses many famous paintings. Kids will recognize some of their favorite artists like Van Gogh, Monet, and Picasso very easily!
Things to Know Before You Go
Admission to the Philadelphia Museum of Art ranges from $14-$25 for adults and FREE for kids 18 years old and under. The museum offers “Pay What You Wish” admission on the first Sunday of each month, as well as every Wednesday night starting at 5 pm. Like the other museums listed above, admission to the Philadelphia Museum of Art is included in the Philadelphia Sightseeing Pass.
The museum has its own dedicated parking garage at the west side of the building, on Anne D’Harnoncourt Drive. There is also paid parking available adjacent to the Oval at the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. If you are bringing a stroller or wheelchair, we recommend the parking garage. If you want to run up the “Rocky Steps”, park near the Oval!
The Philadelphia Museum of Art has two great eating options for visitors. Both are located on the first floor of the main building. Stir Restaurant, a table-service restaurant, gives visitors a chance to sit down and relax while savoring some artisan-inspired meals. You can make reservations here.
We enjoyed our meal at the new cafe. Hot selections, cold grab-and-go salads, and sandwiches, as well as a full soup and salad bar, give you many options to fill your belly!
Other Museums in Philadelphia to Visit
Philadelphia has even more museums you can visit with kids! In addition to the five listed above we also love the Academy of Natural Sciences, The University of Pennsylvania’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Don’t forget to read more of our tips and information on exploring Philadelphia with kids!
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